RANCHI, India, May 18 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on April 16:

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners.

2. The instant writ application has been preferred by the petitioners praying therein for the following reliefs:

(A) For direction upon the respondents to grant and make payment of difference of arrears of salary with interest to the petitioners for the following period, as the petitioners are legally entitled as per the law :-

(i) From November 1971 to 31.3.1973 in case of petitioner no.1;

(ii) From January 1971 to 31.3.1973 in case of petitioner no.2;

(iii) From 1.1.1971 to 31.3.1973 in case of petitioner no.3;

(iv) From 1.1.1971 to 31.3.1973 in case of petitioner no.4;

(v) From 22.10.1971 to 31.3.1973 in case of petitioner No-4;

(B) For holding and declaring that the action of the respondents not paying difference of arrears salary with interest to the petitioners for the aforesaid period is illegal, arbitrary and against the law.

3. During course of hearing, pursuant to the order of this Court, a supplementary counter affidavit has been filed on 24.09.2025 indicating therein that out of five petitioners, the State has decided to pay three petitioners and accordingly, letter has been issued to the concerned office. It has further been stated that arrears of payment will also be paid to the petitioners in due course. For brevity, paras-8, 9 and 10 are extracted hereinbelow:

"8) That it is humbly stated and submitted that in view of Annexure-4 series of the writ petition, the District Superintendent of Education, Ranchi vide Letter No. 2801 dated 23.09.2025 duly communicated to the Drawing cum Disbursement Officer, Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya Gram Vikas, Silli regarding the arrear payment of petitioner no.2, Shri Raghunath Mahto, retired teacher, for the period from 01.01.1971 to 31.03.1973 and that the compliance report along with evidence be made available to the office thereof to the office of the answering respondent no. 4.

9) That it is humbly stated and submitted that in view of Annexure-3 and Annexure-4 series of the writ petition, this answering respondent vide letter no. 2800 dated 23.09.2025 directed the Drawing cum Disbursement Officer, Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Rahe, Sonahatu, to immediately process the pending payment of petitioner no.1, Shri Yamuna Prasad Singh and through letter no. 2799 dated 23.09.2025 directed the Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Childag, Angara to immediately process the pending payment of petitioner no. 4, Shri Lal Singh Mahto respectively and inform the office accordingly, failing which the responsibility for non-payment shall rest entirely upon the concerned officer.

10) That it is humbly stated and submitted that as far as the arrears payment is concerned, the same if not paid yet shall be paid to the petitioners in due course of time."

4. Having regard to the aforesaid, the instant writ application stands disposed of by directing the respondents to expedite the matter of payment of admitted salary/arrear of salary as per Annexure-B series, as early as possible preferably within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

5. So far as the prayer of petitioners for interest of salary is concerned; the petitioners are at liberty to file a joint representation with regard to interest to the concerned respondent and the concerned respondent shall take an informed decision with regard to payment of interest within the aforesaid stipulated period.

6. Accordingly, the instant writ application stands disposed of. Pending I.A., if any, also stands closed.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.