IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.18889 of 2009 (O&M) Date of Decision : 27.01.2010 (O&M) Gian Chand and others .....Petitioners versus State of Punjab and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.Avtar Singh Parmar, Advocate, for the petitioners. -.- 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? --- ORDER Surya Kant, J. (Oral) The petitioner Nos.1 & 2 are retired employees of the Government of Punjab belonging to the General Category. Petitioner No.3 is widow of late Sh.Harnam Singh who was also a retired employee of the Punjab Government, belonging to General Category. They all retired from service as Superintendents Grade-II on different dates. The petitioners now seek a mandamus directing the respondents to pay interest on the delayed payments towards (i) arrears of revised pay; (ii) leave salary; (iii) retiral benefits including the revised pension, and (iv) gratuity. The interest is claimed on the afore-mentioned arrears paid to the petitioners in the year 2008-2009 after implementation C.W.P.No .18889 of 2009 (O&M) 2 of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in [Ajit Singh and others (II) versus State of Punjab and others (1999) 7 Supreme Court Cases 209] and on grant of consequential seniority and deemed promotions. In this regard, the petitioners are said to have served the respondents with legal notices dated 21.7.2009 and 1.8.2009 (Annexures P-10 & P-11 respectively) but without any response. Having heard counsel for the petitioners and in the absence of any cogent material on record, this Court in exercise of its writ jurisdiction cannot arrive at a definite conclusion that there is a deliberate inordinate delay in re-casting of seniority and/or the grant of deemed date of promotions to the petitioners. At the same time, it is imperative upon the respondents to respond to the claim raised on behalf of the petitioners. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of with a direction to respondent Nos.1 & 2 to take cognizance of the claim raised by the petitioners in their legal notices dated 21.7.2009 (Annexure P-10) and 1.8.2009 (Annexure P-11) and decide the same on merits and in accordance with law by passing a speaking order, preferably within a period of 6 months from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order. Disposed of. Dasti. 27-01-2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE