Haryana Roadways Retiree’s Interest Claim Fails After He Submitted Required Pension Documents More Than A Year After Retirement: P&H HC

The petitioner, a Junior Auditor, retired on 31 August 2023.

He claimed that his GPF, leave encashment, gratuity, pension and commuted pension were payable from 1 September 2023, but were paid or processed later; the PPO was issued on 19 March 2025, and monthly pension began on 20 May 2025.

He sought interest on delayed retiral benefits and commuted pension, as well as compensation.

In an earlier writ petition, the High Court directed the respondents to decide his representation.

The respondents rejected the claim, finding that the petitioner had not supplied the required documents in time and had provided them in January 2025.

The petitioner then challenged that rejection in the present petition.

Rule 71 of the Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016, as referred to in the impugned order, places responsibility on the retiring employee to submit the prescribed pension form and requisite documents.

The Court’s reasoning applied the principle that interest on delayed retiral benefits was not warranted where the delay was attributable to the employee rather than the department.

The judgment cited no judicial precedents or other statutory provisions governing interest or commutation.

The Court noted that the petitioner did not controvert the factual findings in the impugned order and had not pleaded in the present petition that the cited requests for documents were never received.

It further relied on the undisputed fact that the requisite documents were supplied only in January 2025, more than a year after retirement, with the affidavit attested on 15 January 2025.

On that basis, the Court found that the delay in processing the retiral benefits was caused by the petitioner, not the department, and declined interest.

As to commutation, the Court noted that it was granted on the request of the retired employee and permitted the petitioner to make a representation to the department in accordance with law.

It did not grant the claimed interest or compensation, but left the petitioner free to make a representation to the department regarding commutation of pension.

Pending applications, if any, were also disposed of.