When will the 25% pending DA be paid? Will all state government employees receive it? Here’s the latest update.
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has brought relief to thousands of government employees in West Bengal. On May 16, the court directed the state government to pay 25% of the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) to eligible employees, based on the 2009 ROPA (Revised Pay Structure).
The court order has clearly stated that the state government must clear this 25% DA within six weeks from the date of the verdict. This has sparked a wave of happiness and hope among long-serving government workers.
However, this ruling has also raised some crucial questions — will all government employees be eligible to receive the 25% pending DA?
As per the Supreme Court’s directive, only those employees who were in service as of 2009 or earlier, or whose service ended by 2019, will be eligible for the 25% DA benefit.
Employees who joined the government after 2019 will not be eligible for this payment, since the 2009 ROPA does not apply to them. According to Coordination Committee leader Biswajit Gupta Choudhury, “Employees who joined after 2019 are still deprived of the current 37% DA. So, even if we receive 25% pending DA, our fight will not stop.”
Those who were working in 2009 or before and have served for at least 10 years will be eligible for the 10-year pending DA benefit. Even those who joined after 2009 but served a full 10-year period may receive a proportionate share based on their eligible service duration.
While this verdict has brought a sense of relief for long-standing employees and union members who have been fighting for justice, new recruits are feeling left out, as they continue to be denied full DA entitlements.
The next hearing on the DA case is scheduled for August, and all eyes are now on the Supreme Court to see what further directions it may issue regarding full DA clearance.
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