IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P.No.15000 of 2007 Date of Decision:01.04.2008 Darshan Singh Virdi .....Petitioner versus The Punjab State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited .....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA AND HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA. Present: Mr.O.P.Gabba, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms.Geeta Sharma, Advocate, for the respondent. *** ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA, J.(Oral) The petitioner who was working as a Senior Assistant retired from service on 30.11.2005. Despite his retirement, he was not released his retiral dues. The same have now been released to him on 27.02.2008. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that as the retiral dues have been paid to the petitioner belatedly hence, he is entitled to interest. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that there was a departmental inquiry pending against the petitioner, as the petitioner had committed certain irregularities, however, the departmental proceedings were dropped on 02.12.2005. Counsel for the respondent is unable to explain as to why such a long time i.e. more than two years have been C.W.P.No.15000 of 2007 --2-- taken to disburse the retiral dues to the petitioner. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered opinion that there was no justification for the respondent to withhold the retiral dues of the petitioner after 02.12.2005. In this view of the matter, we allow the writ petition with a direction that the respondent shall pay interest @ 9% per annum to the petitioner on the retiral dues which have been paid to him on 27.02.2008. The payment of interest shall be made to the petitioner within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. (ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA) JUDGE April 01, 2008 (KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA) seema JUDGE