CWP No.3777 of 2010.doc - 1 – HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** CWP No.3777 of 2010 Date of Decision: 27.09.2010 **** Charanjit Kaur . . . . Petitioner VS. State of Punjab and others . . . . . Respondents **** 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? **** Present: Mr. SK Rattan, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. K.D.S. Sidhu, DAG Punjab ***** SURYA KANT J. (ORAL) (1). The petitioner unfortunately lost her husband who was a school teacher and had to run from pillar to post for the recovery of Gratuity which has now been paid to her only after filing this writ petition, vide cheque dated 23.04.2010 on 29.04.2010. (2). It may be mentioned here that the husband of the petitioner had passed away on 23.06.2002. (3). The inordinate and unexplained delay in releasing the due amount of Gratuity to the petitioner, undoubtedly entitles her for the interest. CWP No.3777 of 2010.doc - 2 – (4). The writ petition is accordingly disposed of with a direction to the respondents to pay interest @ 9% per annum w.e.f. 1st January, 2003 till the actual date of payment of the Gratuity amount, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. (5). The respondents, however, shall be at liberty to hold a fact-finding enquiry and fix the responsibility of the official(s)/officer(s) responsible for causing the delay in payment of Gratuity to the petitioner and recover the amount of interest from such defaulting official(s)/officer (s). (6). Ordered accordingly. (7). Dasti . (SURYA KANT) JUDGE 27.09.2010 vishal shonkar