New Delhi & Kolkata: In a major development for government employees in West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the state government to pay 25% of the pending dearness allowance (DA) within four weeks. A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Manoj Misra passed this interim order. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August.
At present, state government employees in West Bengal receive DA at the rate of 18%. A few months ago, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced an increase from 14% to 18% during her budget speech, effective from April 1. However, there remains a 35% gap between the DA of central and state employees.
Supreme Court Orders West Bengal to Pay 25% Pending DA Within Four Weeks
Employee Reactions- Relief and Recognition: The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked widespread satisfaction among government employees. Bhaskar Ghosh, convenor of the Sangrami Joutho Mancha (Joint Action Forum), said, “The government had long denied our rightful DA. The apex court’s order has validated our claim. The legal process is ongoing, but we now hope to receive the full arrears soon.”
Another protestor added, “This is a recognition of our legitimate demand. The Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s observations. Those of us who have been protesting for years finally feel some relief.”
Timeline of the DA Case: The DA dispute first reached the Supreme Court on November 28, 2022. Since December 1, 2024, the hearing had been postponed multiple times—18 times to be exact. Finally, the matter was heard on Friday, when the court affirmed that there were no flaws in the earlier High Court ruling and ordered the state to pay 25% of the outstanding DA immediately.
Originally, a section of government employees had filed a case in the Calcutta High Court, demanding central DA parity. On May 20, 2022, the High Court directed the state to pay DA at the central rate of 31%. The state government then challenged that verdict in the Supreme Court, leading to the current directive.
State Government Response: Reacting to the court’s directive, West Bengal’s Minister of State for Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, said, “We haven’t received the order yet. Once we do, we’ll respond accordingly.”
This Supreme Court directive is being seen as a partial but significant victory for West Bengal’s government employees. While it doesn’t settle the full dues, it marks the first time the state has been legally compelled to pay part of the pending DA. All eyes are now on the August hearing, which may decide the fate of the remaining dues.
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