In a major development impacting thousands of state government employees in West Bengal, the Supreme Court has directed the Mamata Banerjee-led government to release 25% of pending dearness allowance (DA) dues within three months. The order, passed on Thursday, marks a significant legal victory for the employees who have long demanded parity in DA with central government staff. The ruling comes after years of legal tussle, including several delays attributed to the state government’s repeated adjournments. The matter will be taken up for further hearing in August.
Long Legal Battle Over Pay Disparity
The dispute dates back several years when a section of West Bengal government employees moved the Calcutta High Court, demanding DA at par with their central counterparts. In May 2022, the High Court ruled in favor of the employees, directing the state government to align its DA rates with those of the Centre and clear the arrears. However, the state challenged the order in the Supreme Court in November 2022, leading to a prolonged legal battle.
Despite intermittent DA increases announced by the state over time, the gap between central and state DA rates has remained significant. As of April 1, 2025, central government employees receive 55% DA, whereas state employees in West Bengal receive only 18%—an increase from 14% after the recent 4% hike. This substantial 37% disparity has led to growing frustration and protests among the state’s workforce, especially those stationed across key administrative centers including Kolkata, Siliguri, and Bagdogra—the state’s major airport hubs.
Political Reactions and Implications
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s order, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya called it a “landmark verdict” and accused the West Bengal government of deliberately delaying the process through nearly 17 adjournments. He further asserted that the BJP would ensure that state employees receive their rightful dues and held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accountable for the financial distress of government workers.
The ruling is expected to influence the broader political discourse in the state, particularly in the run-up to future elections. With public sector employees forming a crucial voter base, the issue of unpaid DA has taken on considerable political weight. While the state government has not yet issued an official response to the court’s latest directive, pressure is mounting for immediate compliance to avoid further legal and political backlash.
