MANJIT KAUR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr.Prem Singh husband of Smt.Manjit Kaur who is a retired teacher from the Education Department, Punjab. The husband of the petitioner informs the Court that the petitioner is not keeping well and has been through medical surgeries and is not able to present the case herself nor is the couple in a position to defray the fees and expenses that might be involved in engaging a counsel. The issue involved is simple since it relates only to a claim for interest on delayed payments on provident fund, gratuity, leave encashment, GIS and revised grade.

(2.) Manjit Kaur-petitioner retired on 30th June, 2011 on reaching the age of superannuation. She claims that she submitted her pension papers before 6 months of her retirement and completed all the necessary formalities but the amounts were delayed after retirement and in this respect the action of the Principal of the School is criticized in delaying forwarding the pension papers to the appropriate quarters to facilitate payment of pension and other pensionary dues on retirement or within reasonable time thereof. A chart of the delayed payments is found at pages 146 and 147 of the paper-book and there appears to be hardly any doubt that the payments were released late by 6 to 9 months and this delay is said to be not only unreasonable but culpable.

(3.) Since the amounts due have been withheld without just cause or legal justification, a prayer is made for award of interest @ 18% per annum on the delayed payments.