CWP No.5208 of 1986 : 1 : In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh. CWP No.5208 of 1986 Date of decision: 03.09.2008 Pran Nath Handa (dead) through his legal representatives .... Petitioners Versus The State of Punjab and others .... Respondents. CORAM HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PERMOD KOHLI Present: Mr.Malkiat Singh, Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr.S.S. Sahu, A.A.G., Punjab, for the respondents. -- PERMOD KOHLI, J. (Oral): Heard the learned counsel for the parties at length. During the pendency of the writ petition, petitioner Pran Nath Handa has expired and his legal representatives were brought on record as petitioners vide order dated 13.02.2008 passed in C.M. No.2247 of 2008. Father of the petitioners retired on superannuation from the post of Officiating S.D.O on 30.09.1985. At the time of his retirement, some disciplinary proceedings were pending. All the retiral benefits of the father of the petitioners were with-held except provisional pension. The father of the petitioners approached this Court, seeking a direction in the nature of mandamus for release of retiral benefits. During the pendency of this petition, the father of the petitioners has been exonerated of the CWP No.5208 of 1986 : 2 : charges for which disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. It is also relevant to note that all the retiral benefits except gratuity, were also released to Pran Nath Handa in the year 1987. However, on exoneration from the disciplinary proceedings, even the gratuity amount has also been released on 11.08.2000. The only grievance of the petitioner is regarding the interest on the delayed payment of gratuity. The gratuity carries statutory interest. Since the petitioner has been exonerated in the enquiry, he will be entitled to statutory interest on the gratuity after expiry of one month of the retirement till the date of actual payment. Let the amount of interest be calculated and paid within a period of three months, failing which the petitioner shall be entitled to interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum over the amount so payable, till the amount is actually paid. 03.09.2008 (PERMOD KOHLI) BLS JUDGE Note: Whether to be referred to the Reporter? NO