Calcutta High Court Orders Freeze On Salaries Of Top Civic Officials Over Non-Payment Of Retiree's Dues Since 2018

The Calcutta High Court has ordered a freeze on the salaries of the Executive Officer and Finance Officer of Murshidabad Municipality, West Bengal due to non-payment of pensionary dues to one of its employees since 2018. The court also directed that the honorarium paid to the Chairman of the Municipality be withheld till the entire dues of the petitioner were cleared with interest.

A single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha noted that she had exercised great patience with the alleged contemnors and that such liberty cannot continue to be extended since the petitioner had retired in 2018, and had not been paid his dues over the last seven years.

"Repeated orders were passed for payment of the amount...the same has not been honoured by the municipality. In such a position, the court is constrained to pass order directing freezing of the salary of the contemnor no. 2 and no. 3. The honorarium received by the chairman shall also be withheld till the entire dues of the petitioner are cleared with interest. The matter stands adjourned till 13th March," the Court held.

Case: Kalpana Hazra Vs. Mr. Indrajit Dhar & Ors

Case No: CPAN 1367/2023

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