BHABANI PRASAD DASGUPTA Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner claims interest on delayed payment of benefits under the ROPA 1998. In terms of a circular issued by the Deputy Secretary, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal dated 23rd June, 2000, the said arrears were to be paid in five installments after 1st November, 2002 i.e. by November 2007.

(2.) Admittedly the payments were delayed and finally made only in the year 2008. The petitioner claims interest on the said arrears from the year 2000 till the year 2021.

(3.) Reference is made by counsel for the petitioner to decisions of Coordinate Benches of this Court in the case of Calcutta Tram Mazdoor Sabha vs. State of West Bengal in WP No.910 of 2006, being order dated 16th April, 2008; Subhra Kumar Dey and Ors. vs. State of West Bengal in WP No.1844 of 2008, order dated 17th February, 2009; order dated 2nd June, 2004 in WP No.514 of 2012, Debendra Nath Ghosh and Ors. vs. State of West Bengal and Ors. Claims similar to the petitioners but upto the year 2008 have been allowed in these cases. The respondents did not challenge the orders. In a contempt proceeding being CPAN 177 of 2020, arising out of WPA 20866 of 2019 by order dated 24th November, 2021, the amount of interest paid till the year 2008 by the respondents to the petitioners therein was also duly recorded.