Is the long wait finally coming to an end? In a significant development, the Supreme Court has offered hope to West Bengal state government employees fighting for their pending Dearness Allowance (DA). The apex court has reportedly observed that the state government should consider paying at least 50% of the DA to its employees, stirring excitement among the long-disappointed workforce.
⚖️ Supreme Court’s Strong Observation
The case was scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, May 14, at 2 PM in Courtroom 15, before the Division Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Manoj Misra. However, due to the case being listed at the very end of the day’s cause list, it couldn’t be heard because of time constraints.
Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the employees, confirmed the update:
“Although the case was listed for 2 PM, it couldn’t be heard due to lack of time. The next hearing has been rescheduled for Friday.”
Still, the Supreme Court’s verbal observation during the earlier hearing — that the state should consider immediately releasing at least 50% of the pending DA — has brought renewed hope among employees and unions.
💰 State Government Cites Financial Crisis
During the hearing, the state government’s legal representatives argued against the directive, citing a serious financial crisis. They claimed it would be extremely difficult for the government to release such a large sum of DA at once under current economic conditions.
However, legal experts and employee unions believe that the overall mood and observations made by the judges are clearly employee-friendly, and they anticipate a favourable verdict soon.
👥 Employees’ Reaction & What’s Next
The prolonged DA issue has kept lakhs of employees waiting, protesting, and fighting legal battles for years. The Supreme Court’s observation has now been seen as a major milestone in their journey toward justice.
Now, all eyes are on Friday’s final hearing (May 16). If the court rules in favour of the employees, they could receive a substantial portion of the 12–18 months’ pending DA. The big question remains—how will the state government implement the order if it goes against them?