Kolkata: Dues DA may be received in July, state government employees will get around Rs 5-8 lakh per head. In a long-awaited verdict regarding Dearness Allowance (DA) for West Bengal state government employees, the Supreme Court of India has issued a significant order. The apex court has instructed the state government to clear 25% of the pending DA dues within the next six weeks, increasing financial pressure on the Mamata Banerjee administration.
On Friday, a division bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Manoj Misra stated that the West Bengal government must pay at least 25% of the DA arrears to its employees. According to the court order, this payment must be completed within six weeks from the date of hearing, meaning the deadline will expire in the first week of July. Hence, employees can expect to receive their pending DA by mid-July.
Dues DA may be received in July, state government employees will get around Rs 5-8 lakh per head
Who Will Receive How Much DA? The arrear calculation is based on the 5th Pay Commission. According to the General Secretary of the employees’ confederation: Employees who were in service from July 1, 2009, to December 31, 2019, are eligible for full DA arrears for the period. Those who retired within that period will receive a proportionate amount based on their date of retirement. Even those who retired before July 1, 2009, will receive a part of the arrears, calculated on their retirement-time basic salary.
For Pensioners: Pensioners will not receive DA, but instead will be paid Dearness Relief (DR). This amount will be calculated from their retirement date up to December 31, 2019, based on their basic pension during the period.
What Is the Estimated DA Arrear Amount? According to state government employee estimates, the average pending DA per employee is: Group A: ₹7–8 lakh, Group B: ₹5 lakh, Group C: ₹3.5–4 lakh and Group D: ₹1.25–2.5 lakh
This enormous financial liability may pose a serious challenge to the state’s treasury, but the Supreme Court’s directive has brought renewed hope among the employees.
Supreme Court’s Initial Directive: Interestingly, during the hearing, the Supreme Court initially ordered the state to clear 50% of the pending DA. Justice Karol said, “We have reviewed rulings from the Tribunal, the High Court’s Division Bench—all judgments favor DA payment.”
However, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the state, argued that immediate payment of 50% DA arrears would jeopardize the state’s financial operations. Subsequently, the bench revised its order and directed the government to pay at least 25% for now. Employees remain hopeful that the rest 25% will follow, possibly in two phases.
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