The High Court has directed the state authorities to pay 6% interest per annum to a retired court staff member for an admitted 10-month delay in releasing her terminal benefits. The High Court also instructed the Goa Finance Secretary to conduct an inquiry and consider recovering the interest amount directly from the officials responsible for the procedural delay.

​The ruling came on a petition filed by a court staffer, who retired from service in mid-2024 while working at the Court of Senior Civil Judge and CJM, Margao.

​Following her retirement, petitioner was not paid her terminal dues, which prompted an initial round of litigation where the High Court directed the authorities to release her funds.

Her gratuity, commuted leave, leave encashment, and pension benefits were finally released on February 17, 2025—nearly 10 months after her retirement. The petitioner subsequently approached the High Court seeking a 10% annual interest payout on the delayed sum as compensation.

During the proceedings, the administrative bodies traded blame over the delay. Directorate of Accounts Claimed that a query raised by the department on January 30, 2024, received a response only on February 13, 2025.

Declining to conduct a factual inquiry into inter-departmental blame itself, the High Court ruled that an admitted delay occurred and awarded 6% interest per annum, citing prevailing bank deposit rates and legal precedent. The Directorate of Accounts is mandated to disburse the final interest payment within two weeks of receiving the bill.