In a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the West Bengal government and its employees, the Supreme Court has ordered the state to release 25% of pending dearness allowance (DA) dues within three months. The order, issued by a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta, marks a major win for lakhs of state government employees who have been demanding DA parity with central government staff.
The apex court’s directive comes as a setback to the Mamata Banerjee-led administration, which has faced mounting pressure from employee unions and opposition parties over the prolonged delay in clearing DA arrears.
The legal tussle dates back to an earlier petition filed in the Calcutta High Court, where employees had sought payment of DA at rates equivalent to those offered to central government employees. In May 2022, the High Court ruled in favor of the employees, directing the state to provide DA at central rates, including arrears. However, the state government challenged this ruling in the Supreme Court in November 2022.
Since then, the West Bengal government has made intermittent increases to the DA, but a significant gap remains. As of April 1, 2025, state employees receive 18% DA—14% earlier plus a 4% hike—while central government employees enjoy 55% DA, resulting in a 37% disparity.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s latest directive, BJP IT Cell head and spokesperson Amit Malviya posted on social media platform X, calling it a “landmark order” and a “major victory” for West Bengal government employees and the BJP in the state. He also criticized the state for attempting to delay proceedings with around 17 adjournments during the course of the legal battle.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for August, by which time the state is expected to comply with the partial payment order. The case continues to be a politically sensitive issue in West Bengal, with employee associations closely watching further developments.
Sources By Agencies
