Calcutta, Aug. 1: The high court today ordered the government to pay 8 per cent interest to retired teaching and non-teaching employees of state-aided schools whose retirement benefits were held up for no fault of theirs.

“The principal secretary of the finance department is directed to pay 8 per cent interest to teaching and non-teaching staff of government schools who retired but there was delay in disbursement of pension and other statutory dues,” Justice Biswanath Somadder said.

Principal secretary Samar Ghosh was also told to identify within a year the officials responsible for the delay. “The government will have to realise the interest from these employees,” the order said.

Over 400 teachers and non-teaching school employees who retired between 2000 and 2006 had moved court separately, but their cases were clubbed together.

“Another 6,000 teaching and non-teaching staff, who got their benefits long after their retirement but did not approach the court will also benefit as Justice Somadder’s verdict would be a precedent in their cases also,” said a senior high court lawyer.

The government counsel appeared happy that the court had only ordered payment of 8 per cent interest. “Many high court judges had earlier ordered up to 18 per cent interest for the delay,” Tapabrata Chakraborty said.

The school education department would decide whether to challenge today’s order after getting a copy of it.

An official said the delay in most cases was because of the schools, which did not properly maintain service records.

“Today’s judgment was based on a memo issued by the state government on May 26, 1998. In it, the government declared that officials held responsible for delay in disbursing the statutory dues of a retired employee would have to pay the interest,” said Sourav Mitra, the lawyer appearing for the retired teachers.