Supreme Court Enforces DA Rights for West Bengal Employees

The Supreme Court has mandated the West Bengal government to compensate nearly 20 lakh government employees with dearness allowance for 2008-2019. It ruled that DA is a legally-enforceable right, linking it to the AICPI. A committee will ensure the timely release of payments.

The Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling that provides relief to approximately 20 lakh government employees in West Bengal. On Thursday, the court directed the state government to dispense dearness allowance (DA) for the period spanning 2008 to 2019, affirming it as a legally-enforceable right.

The decision was handed down by a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra. It specified that 25 percent of the total due DA must be disbursed by March 6. The court underscored that DA is linked to the All-India Consumer Price Index and must be calculated accordingly, dismissing any modification attempts by the state.

To ensure proper execution, the court constituted a committee, including former judges and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, to oversee payment accuracy and timelines. The committee was tasked with assessing payment amounts while ensuring the first installment is released by March 31. The ruling also confirmed that retirees affected by the litigation are entitled to receive benefits.

(With inputs from agencies.)