Supreme Court Orders West Bengal to Pay DA Arrears to Employees from 2008-2019
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In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has directed the West Bengal government to pay dearness allowance (DA) to its employees for the period from 2008 to 2019. The court observed that DA is a legally enforceable right that safeguards employees from the adverse effects of rising prices. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra ordered the state government to pay 25% of the outstanding DA by March 6. The total outstanding DA dues are estimated to be around 41,000 crores. The court emphasized that DA is not an additional benefit but a means to maintain a minimum standard of living. To determine the total amount to be paid, the court appointed a committee comprising former judges and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The committee will work with state authorities to schedule payments and verify the release of amounts. The first instalment, subject to the committee's determination, is to be paid by March 31, 2026. The court also clarified that retired employees will be entitled to benefits under the ruling. This ruling comes after a long-standing controversy began in 2022 when a section of West Bengal government employees approached the Calcutta High Court demanding DA at the same rate as their central government counterparts. The high court initially ruled in their favour, but the state government appealed, leading to the Supreme Court's intervention.
