Supreme Court of India has directed the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the outstanding Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears to state employees within three months.
The ruling, issued by a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta, comes as an interim relief in an ongoing legal battle over DA parity with central government employees.
The decision follows a 2022 Calcutta High Court judgment, which had ordered the state to align DA payments with central government rates.
However, the West Bengal government challenged the ruling, citing financial constraints.
Background of the DA Dispute
The dispute began when state government employees approached the Calcutta High Court, demanding DA parity with their central government counterparts.
The high court ruled in favor of the employees in May 2022, directing the state to clear long-pending DA arrears.
Despite the ruling, the West Bengal government delayed implementation, arguing that paying full arrears would severely strain state finances.
The government subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court in November 2022, seeking relief from the high court’s directive.
Supreme Court’s Ruling on DA Arrears and Implementation Timeline
The Supreme Court initially suggested releasing 50% of the pending DA, but later revised the amount to 25% after senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government, argued that the state lacked the financial capacity to disburse such a large sum at once.
The court has instructed the West Bengal government to comply with the order within three months, with the matter scheduled for further hearing in August 2025.
Current DA Disparity and Employee Concerns
At present, central government employees receive 55% DA, while West Bengal government employees receive only 18%, even after a recent 4% hike in April 2025.
The 37% gap between the state and central DA rates has led to widespread dissatisfaction among employees.
State employees argue that rising inflation and financial hardship make DA parity essential, and they have repeatedly protested against the state government’s failure to implement the high court’s ruling.
Political Reactions and Implications
The Supreme Court’s ruling has sparked political debate, with BJP leaders hailing the decision as a major victory for state employees.
BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya accused the West Bengal government of deliberately stalling the process, citing 17 adjournments in court proceedings.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the ruling, calling the Trinamool Congress-led government “bankrupt” and predicting that pensioners would also receive DA arrears soon.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has yet to issue an official response regarding its plan to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive.
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