IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 15082 of 2009. [O&M] Date of Decision: 6th July, 2010. Raj Kumar Goel Petitioner through Mr. Vipul Jindal, Advocate Versus P.S.E.B. & Anr. Respondents through Mr. Sukhbir Singh, Advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT. 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? SURYA KANT, J. [ORAL] The petitioner retired from the post of Assistant Engineer in the Punjab State Electricity Board w.e.f. 30.11.2007 on attaining the age of superannuation. The retiral dues were paid after 6-7 months of his retirement. He now seeks a Mandamus to direct the respondents to pay interest on the delayed payment. The petitioner also alleges delay of four years in payment of the arrears of pay after he got retrospective promotion. The respondents have filed the reply/affidavit explaining that due to pendency of the Vigilance Inquiry, the delay of two months in release of the retiral dues was caused. As regards the arrears of pay on ante-dated promotion, it has been explained that the petitioner was promoted after granting exemption from passing the departmental examination and the said exemption could be granted only after attaining the age of 52 years. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. In my considered view, the petitioner is not entitled to claim interest on the arrears of pay on account of his retrospective promotion as earlier the said promotion was not granted to him due to non-passing of the departmental examination by him. As regards the retiral dues, ordinarily, a period of three months after retirement is sufficient for the release of retiral dues. The respondents have themselves referred to Rule 9.13 of the Punjab Civil Service Rules which entitles a retired employee to claim interest @ 5% per annum after the expiry of a period of three months of his retirement. The writ petition is accordingly allowed in part to the extent that the petitioner shall be paid interest @ 7% per annum, i.e., the prevalent market rate, w.e.f. 1.3.2008 till the actual payment of the retiral dues to him. The arrears of interest shall be paid to the petitioner within a period of three months from the date a certified copy of this order is received. Disposed of. Dasti. July 06, 2010. ( SURYA KANT ) dinesh JUDGE