PANDEY JANARDAN PRASAD SINHA Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) FROM the chart produced by Mr. Dilip Kumar Mandai, District Provident Fund Officer, Gumla, it appears that interost was calculated upto February, 1999, i.e. upto a period of six months after retirement of the petitioner. Upto date interest, i.e. statutory interest upto the date of payment (January, 2004), was not calculated. After Court's order, only a sum of Rs. 13,634/ - was paid in December, 2004. Tr1e only ground given is that the petitioner has not asked for payment of statutory interest for the subsequent period by filing an application in time.

(2.) IT is the duty of the State to make payment of G.FF. amount with statutory interest accrued thereon on the date of retirement of an employee or within six months after tile date of his retirement. They cannot deny the payment of statutory interest for the subsequent period on the ground that no application was filed. in fact, under the Rule, it is the competent authority who is supposed to get all the documents cleared six months prior to the date of retirement of an employee. If the authorities fail to perform their duties to get all the documents cleared prior to the date of retirement, they cannot blame the retired employee, nor can they deny payment of statutory interest on the ground that he has not applied within time. The respondents are bound to pay upto date statutory interest, i.e. up to January, 2004, when the G.F.F. amount, without upto date statutory interest, was paid to the petitioner.

(3.) SO far as bonus amount is concerned, the respondents will come with a cheque/demand draft for payment to the petitioner on the next date.