We affirm the judgment for the reasons stated below, except to vacate that portion of the judgment directing that as to the $20 million to be returned to the city, respondents must pay 9% interest as of March 29, 1983, the date the penalty was assessed. The right to interest is purely statutory. Under CPLR 7806, which specifies what relief may be granted in a judgment in a special proceeding, only restitution or damages which are incidental to the primary relief sought by the petitioner may be awarded.
The primary relief requested in this proceeding was a determination that respondent New York State Department of Social Services had acted arbitrarily and capriciously in applying a particular standard to its audit concerning the timeliness of petitioner's public assistance case closings and reductions. Incidental to that relief was a recovery of the penalty imposed on petitioner as a result of respondent's findings. Thus, a judgment awarding a return of that penalty was appropriate under CPLR 7806 as restitution incidental to the primary relief.
However, CPLR 7806 nowhere authorizes an award of interest under the circumstances presented.
Concur — Sandler, J.P., Carro, Kassal, Ellerin and Wallach, JJ.