IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. CWP (T) No. 5311/2008 Decided on:3.9.2009 ________________________________________________ R.M. Singla. …Petitioner. Versus State of Himachal Pradesh. … Respondent. __________________________________________________________ Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 No. For the petitioner : Mr. Neel Kamal Sood, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. R.K. Sharma, Sr. Addl. A.G. and Mr. Rajinder Dogra, Addl. A.G. ________________________________________________________ Rajiv Sharma, Judge . The petitioner who was working as an Executive Engineer submitted application seeking pre-mature retirement under the Himachal Pradesh Civil Services (Premature Retirement) Rules, 1976. He was informed in the month of April, 1998 that his application was under consideration. His request was acceded to on 1.4.1999. However, the respondent has delayed the release of retiral benefits, including Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity amount, arrears of pension and pay etc. It was incumbent upon the respondent to release the 1 Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? No. 2 retiral benefits to the petitioner after due date. The Death-cum- Retirement Gratuity was released to the petitioner on 16.7.2003. The amount of GPF was paid to him on 20.2.2002. There is delay in payment of the arrears of pension with effect from 1.4.1998 to 31.8.2001. Similarly, there is delay in release of arrears of pay as per paras 2 and 3 of the rejoinder. Since there is considerable delay in payment of DCRG, GPF, payment of pension arrears and salary, the petitioner is held entitled to the following interest: i) The petitioner is held entitled to interest @ 9% per annum as far as GPF and arrears of pension are concerned. He is held entitled to interest as prescribed under rule 68 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 read with instruction No.II thereto on the amount of gratuity; ii) Since the arrears of salary have been wrongly withheld by the respondents, the petitioner is held entitled to interest @ 9% on the same also. The interest, as directed hereinabove, shall be paid to the petitioner within a period of eight weeks from today. Accordingly, in the light of above, the petition is allowed. There shall, however, be no order as to costs. (Rajiv Sharma), J. 3.9. 2009. *awasthi*