In a significant development, the Supreme Court has issued a strong directive to the West Bengal government regarding the long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) dues of state government employees. The apex court has ordered that 25% of the pending DA must be paid within the next six weeks, putting fresh financial pressure on the Mamata Banerjee-led administration.
On May 16, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the employees, directing the state to clear a quarter of the outstanding DA dues immediately. The bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Manoj Misra made it clear that this payment must be completed within six weeks from the date of the hearing, meaning the deadline falls in early July.
Over 10 Lakh WB State Employees and Pensioners to Receive 25% DA in June 2025
🔍 Who Will Get the DA Arrears?
The calculation of the pending DA is based on the 5th Pay Commission.
1 . Employees who were in service between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019 will receive full arrears.
2 . Retired employees within this period will get arrears based on their service duration.
3 . Even those who retired before 2009 may receive a partial amount based on their basic pension.
👴 What About Pensioners?
Retired government employees will not receive DA as salary arrears but as Dearness Relief (DR). The calculation will cover the period from their retirement date up to December 31, 2019.
💰 How Much Is the DA Arrear Per Employee?
According to estimates from employee unions:
1 . Group A: ₹7–8 lakhs per person
2 . Group B: ₹5 lakhs
3 . Group C: ₹3.5–4 lakhs
4 . Group D: ₹1.25–2.5 lakhs
This massive payout could significantly impact the state’s financial health, experts believe. However, the ruling has come as a ray of hope for lakhs of employees.
🏛️ Court First Suggested 50%, Then Revised
Initially, during the Friday hearing, the Supreme Court suggested the state should pay 50% of the pending DA. Justice Karol stated that both the Tribunal and High Court ruled in favor of the employees earlier. However, state lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that paying 50% immediately would make running the state impossible. The court then agreed to a revised order of 25%.
📊 How Many Employees Are Eligible?
1 . Over 2.5 lakh active state employees
2 . About 3.8 lakh school teachers
3 . Nearly 1 lakh employees in municipalities, panchayats, and other autonomous bodies
Adding retired employees, the total number of beneficiaries may cross 10 lakh
🏢 Finance Department Begins Preparations
The state finance department has reportedly begun collecting data from various departments to calculate the number of DA beneficiaries. This indicates that the state may be preparing to release 25% of the dues soon.
While the order brings relief to state employees and pensioners, it poses a major fiscal challenge for the West Bengal government, which now races against time to meet the Supreme Court’s July deadline.