Baldev Singh vs Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Director

Hemant Gupta, J.—Learned Counsel for State-respondent has filed a copy of the order passed by the respondent on 10.9.2010. The same is taken on record.

This Court directed the respondent on 4.3.2010 that in case there is no legal embargo and the petitioner is not responsible for the delay, the respondents shall pay interest @ 7% per annum on the retiral benefits for a period of six months. Learned Counsel for the petitioner states that in terms of the order passed by this Court on 4.3.2010, the petitioner is entitled to interest @7%.

In the order passed by the respondent, it has been noticed that the petitioner retired on 28.2.2009 from Panchayat Samiti, Kahnuwan, District Gurdaspur and the pension case was received in the Office of Director of Rural Development and Panchayats on 17.7.2009. The same was returned to the Executive Officer, Panchayat Samiti due to some discrepancies. Hence, there is no delay on the part of the office of the Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, Punjab in making the payment of the retiral benefits.

The reasoning to decline the payment of interest in the order dated 10.9.2010 cannot be said to be irrelevant or unwarranted which may show that the order passed by this Court has not been complied with.

In view of the said fact, no further orders are called for in the present contempt petition. Consequently, the same is dismissed as having been rendered infrucutous.