IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.14398 of 2006 Smt.Kamla Devi, wife of late Balkeshwar Das, resident of village Jiyar P.S. Asthawan, Distt. Nalanda.. Petitioner Versus 1. The Divisional Manager,Life Insurance Corporation of India, Bhagalpur 2. The Branch Manager, Life Insurance Corporation of India,Lakhisarai Branch Office, Lakhisarai. Respondents ----------- 6. 13.7.2010 Heard learned counsels for the parties. The petitioner has come to this Court seeking a direction for payment of double accidental benefit with respect to her husband who had died while serving during the Lok Sabha Election 1999. The Life Insurance Corporation of India had earlier paid an amount of Rs. 50,000/-. The petitioner however made a claim for payment of another Rs. 50,000/- which was rejected by letter dated 21.8.2004 written to the petitioner. Ultimately, the petitioner filed the writ petition on 24.11.2006. In the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the respondent-Corporation, it is stated that the competent authority of the Corporation has decided to pay double accidental benefit in the light of the judgment of a Division Bench of this Court in the case of Branch 2 Manager, United India Insurance Company Ltd., Nalanda at Biharsharif and others Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors.: 2003 (2) PLJR 591 and accordingly a cheque bearing number 112445 dated 5.7.2010 of Rs. 50,000/- drawn on Central Bank of India, Lakhisarai has been handed over to learned counsel for the petitioner in Court today for onward transmission to the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that relief sought for by the petitioner also includes the payment of interest on the withheld amount. Learned counsel for the LIC, on the other hand, submits that no such interest was awarded in the earlier order of the Division Bench and further when the order of rejection was passed by the authorities of the LIC, they were not aware of the said Division Bench decision. In any case it is submitted by him that the petitioner has approached this Court on 24.11.2006 and thus is not entitled to any interest from the date of death. On a consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, it is evident that in terms of the law laid down by the Division Bench in the aforesaid case, the petitioner is eligible to the benefit under the 3 double accidental benefit policy. The rejection of the claim was contrary to the decision of this Court. However, since the petitioner herself has approached this Court on 24.11.2006, hence it would be appropriate that the respondent authorities should pay her interest at least from the said date till today when the amount of Rs. 50,000/- has been paid. It is accordingly directed that the respondent-LIC shall pay interest to the petitioner at the rate of 6% per annum from 24.11.2006 till today on the amount of Rs. 50,000/- which had been handed over in Court today by cheque to learned counsel for the petitioner. Let the said payment be made within two months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. The writ application is accordingly disposed of in terms of the aforesaid directions. S. Pandey ( Ramesh Kumar Datta, J.)