IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.424 of 2008 Prabhu Rai, son of Yogendra Rai, Resident of village-Matihani, P.S. Paroo, District-Muzaffarpur. …..Petitioner. Versus 1. The State of Bihar. 2. The District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur. 3. The Deputy Development Commisioner, Muzaffarpur. 4. The Block Development Officer, Paroo, District-Muzaffarpur. …..Respondents. ----------- 04. 20.02.2009 The petitioner had done some work for Gram Panchayat Raj, Kataru fifteen years back. Part payment was made rest of the payment not having been made petitioner came to this court. When the matter was pending the authorities examined the matter and found that payment was in fact due to the petitioner and accordingly by cheque on 05.01.2009 almost a decade after the payment was made for an amount of Rs. 40,340/-. Thus it is being without any reasonable cause or justification state had withheld Rs. 40,340/- from the petitioner and only when this court intervened payments were made. This is grossly unfair, unreasonable and arbitral. Petitioner is entitled to be compensated for this arbitrary action of the respondents. It is therefore directed that the concerned Gram Panchayat would pay interest @ 6% per annum from the time payment - 2 - was due for the time payment was made as compensation to the petitioner for inordinate delay in payment of admitted dues. The Block Development Officer, Paroo, District- Muzaffarpur would ensure that this payment of compensation is made to the petitioner by the concerned Gram Panchayat within a period of one month from the date of production of copy of this order before him. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. Vikash/- (Navaniti Prasad Singh, J.)