Kolkata, February 8: Members of the Joint Forum of West Bengal government employees took to the streets of Kolkata on Sunday, urging the Mamata Banerjee government to release the pending 25% Dearness Allowance (DA) as mandated by the Supreme Court.
Protesters marched from Subodh Mallick Square to Rani Rashmoni Road in central Kolkata. BJP MP Soumitra Khan joined the rally to show solidarity with the employees.
Demonstrators accused the state government of delaying the payment of the pending Dearness Allowance despite the Supreme Court‘s ruling. Members of the forum claimed that no announcement regarding the DA has been made following the court’s order. They reiterated their resolve to take to the streets again to prevent the government from filing a review petition against the ruling.
Coordinator Ghosh stated, “The government must comply with the court’s order. This Dearness Allowance will not only benefit employees but will also circulate in the market, thereby increasing the value of labor. The entire cycle has been disrupted due to the state government’s failure to pay the pending DA.”
On February 5, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the media in the state assembly, stating, “The committee that issued this ruling included two Supreme Court judges and a member of the CAG, but there was no representative from the West Bengal government. Therefore, after considering this and consulting with lawyers, we have formed a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary. They will review this matter, and we will proceed according to their recommendations.”
The Supreme Court ordered the Mamata Banerjee government to pay the pending 25% Dearness Allowance to state employees by March 31. Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra directed the state to form a four-member committee to decide on the remaining 75% of the DA. This bench had reserved its decision on the matter last August.
In an interim order issued on May 16 last year, the Supreme Court instructed the state government to pay 25% of the Dearness Allowance to its employees within three months. The Mamata Banerjee government later requested an extension of the deadline by six months, citing a lack of funds.
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My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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