Supreme Court Issues Deadline To Bengal Govt To Release 25% Of Pending DA to State Employees

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government to release 25% of the long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) of state employees within four weeks. The decision comes as a much-awaited relief amid a prolonged legal tussle over pay parity.

The interim order was issued by a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Manoj Misra. The matter will be heard again in August, when the court is expected to take up the remaining issues surrounding the unpaid DA.

Currently, Bengal government employees receive just 18% DA, following a 4% hike announced earlier this year by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her state budget speech. In stark contrast, their counterparts in the central government enjoy a significantly higher 55% DA rate.

The disparity in allowances prompted a section of Bengal’s government workforce to approach the Calcutta High Court, demanding parity with central government employees. On May 20, 2022, the high court ruled in their favour, instructing the state to pay DA at 31%, matching the central rate at the time.

However, the Bengal government contested the high court's decision, escalating the matter to the Supreme Court. The case reached the apex court on November 28, 2022. Since then, hearings have been deferred 18 times, with delays mounting until a crucial turning point arrived on December 1, 2024.

Now, with Friday’s ruling, the Supreme Court has upheld the earlier high court order. The court mandated that 25% of the outstanding DA must be paid immediately, while decisions on the remaining amount will be made during the next scheduled hearing.

 

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