IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.17609 of 2009 Date of Decision : April 29, 2010. Arun Rashmi and another .....Petitioners versus State of Punjab and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.R.K.Arora, Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr.B.S.Chahal, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. -.- 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? --- Surya Kant, J. (Oral) The petitioners, who have retired as Officiating Block Primary Education Officers from the Education Department, Government of Punjab, w.e.f. 31.12.2005 and 31.7.2006 respectively, seek a mandamus to direct the respondents to release their with-held amount of gratuity. It is stated that 10% of the gratuity amount has not been paid to the petitioners allegedly for want of clearance certificate from the Vigilance Department which has already been issued and sent to the authorities. It is not in dispute that 10% gratuity amount has now been released and paid to the petitioners though after a delay of four years. In these circumstances, the writ petition is allowed to the extent that the C.W.P.No .17609 of 2009 2 respondents are directed to pay interest @ 7% per month for a period of 36 months to the petitioners. The arrears of the interest shall be paid within a period of four months from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order. It is further directed that the respondents shall fix the responsibility of the officers/officials who have caused the delay in releasing 10% gratuity amount to the petitioners and shall be at liberty to recover the amount of interest to be paid to the petitioners from the defaulting Officer/official, in accordance with law. Dasti. April 29, 2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE