IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civl Writ Petition No.17567 of 2011 Date of Decision : September 20, 2011. Mathra Devi .....Petitioner versus State of Punjab and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.Samir Rathaur, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms.Sudeepti Sharma, DAG, 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) Notice of motion. Ms.Sudeepti Sharma, learned Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. Let four copies of the writ petition be supplied to the learned State counsel during the course of day failing which the order shall be automatically recalled and the writ petition shall be deemed to have been dismissed for non-prosecution. In view of the nature of order which I propose to pass, there is no need to seek any counter reply from the respondents at this stage. CWP No.17567 of 2011 [2] The petitioner seeks a direction for reimbursement of the medical expenses incurred by her. The reply to the legal notice, dated 18.4.2011 (Annexure P-3) sent by the Block Primary Education Officer, Abohar-II acknowledges the fact that the petitioner submitted her medical claim on 3.6.2008 which was forwarded to the District Education Officer (Primary), Ferozepur on 3.6.2008 itself. The reply further reveals that it was after more than a year that some objections were raised and the bills were returned on 21.11.2009. The objections were removed and the bills were again forwarded to the District Education Officer (Primary) Ferozepur on 18.12.2009 but thereafter nothing has been heard. Least to say, the action of the authorities in keeping the medical bills pending for more than three years' is not less than 'criminal negligence'. While allowing the writ petition, a direction is issued to the D.P.I. (Primary Education), Punjab to personally ensure that the medical bills of the petitioner are got verified and reimbursed as per the Rules/Instructions within a period of one month from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order, alongwith interest @ 9% per annum. The entire amount of interest shall be recovered personally from the District Education officer (Primary), Ferozepur and other officers/officials working in his office who are found responsible for the inordinate delay. If the delay has been caused at the Directorate level, the amount of interest shall be proportionally recoverable from them as well. A compliance report shall be submitted within a period of two months failing which the case shall be listed as per roster for initiation of CWP No.17567 of 2011 [3] suo-moto contempt of Court proceedings. Dasti. September 20, 2011 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE