Kolkata: A major breakthrough in the long-pending West Bengal DA arrears issue could be around the corner. The state government is expected to discuss clearing pending Dearness Allowance dues at Monday’s cabinet meeting in Nabanna, raising hopes among lakhs of government employees waiting for relief after years of legal and political battle.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had hinted at a crucial decision after the first cabinet meeting held last Monday. According to administrative sources, the second cabinet meeting, scheduled for 11 AM on Monday, may finally pave the way for settlement of the pending DA dues in line with the Supreme Court’s direction.
The DA dispute has remained one of the most sensitive issues for state government employees in recent years. After a prolonged legal fight, the Supreme Court directed the Bengal government to clear outstanding DA payments within a fixed timeline. However, the previous administration failed to comply fully with the order.
While a section of employees reportedly received arrears for the 2016–2019 period, dues pending from 2008 to 2016 remained unpaid. Political observers believe the issue significantly influenced the recent Assembly election results, particularly in postal ballots cast by government employees, where the Trinamool Congress reportedly faced setbacks from the beginning of counting.
Sources in the administration now indicate that the new government may move away from the earlier phased-payment approach. Instead, it is considering clearing the entire backlog in one go to send a strong message to state employees.
The development has gained further attention after the May 6 Supreme Court hearing on the DA case was postponed. A day before the hearing, state government counsel Kunal Mimani sought a three-week deferment. Employee organisations believe the request may be linked to the government’s internal process regarding DA clearance.
Malay Mukhopadhyay, general secretary of the Confederation of State Government Employees and one of the key voices in the DA movement, said the overall situation suggests that the state may prefer to settle the dues before appearing again in court.
At present, the DA gap between central and West Bengal government employees stands at nearly 42 percent. The previous government had also failed to implement the additional 4 percent DA announced in the state budget, making the upcoming cabinet decision even more crucial for employees across departments.
Apart from the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister is scheduled to attend multiple official programmes on Monday. He will hold a meeting with BSF officials at 1 PM and later felicitate meritorious students at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium around 3 PM. A North Bengal administrative tour is also planned from May 20, followed by another high-level review meeting in Durgapur on May 21 involving several districts including Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and the two Bardhamans.
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