CWP No. 12830 of 2007 1 IN THE PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT AT CHANDIGARH CWP No.12830 of 2007 Date of decision: May 06, 2009 Neki Ram ... Petitioner Versus State of Haryana & otheres ... Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY TEWARI Present : Mr. Virender Kumar, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Harish Rathee, Sr. DAG, Haryana. *** 1. Whether Reporters of Local Newspapers 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? AJAY TEWARI, J.(Oral) The only dispute in this writ petition remained with regard to interest on the delayed payment of retiral benefits. Undisputedly the pension was released to the petitioner after almost two years. The reason given in the written statement in this regard was that the pension case of the petitioner was sent to Accountant General, Haryana on 9.2.2005. Since the petitioner had earlier worked in Municipal Committee, therefore, some queries were raised by Accountant General, Haryana which were replied to by the BDPO Sohana vide letter dated 13.1.2006. The BDPO sent his case back on 8.6.2006. The DCRG was sanctioned by AG Haryana vide letter dated 19.3.2007. Since so much time CWP No. 12830 of 2007 2 was consumed in correspondence between the departments, therefore, the payment could not be made to the petitioner on time. There was no intentional or mala fide delay on the part of the respondents. In these circumstances, in my opinion it would be in the interest of justice to award interest @8% per month to the petitioner for a period of one year out of two years delay in payment of retiral dues . Needful be done within 3 months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. In case the payment is not made within the said period then further interest @ 8% per month on the amount of interest also would be payable to the petitioner. Consequently, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. May 06, 2009 (AJAY TEWARI) sunita JUDGE