Kolkata, February 5: West Bengal government employees have received significant relief regarding their long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) payments. On Thursday, the Supreme Court’s decision was welcomed by the united front of state government employees and various political parties.
The coordinator of the employees’ united front, Ghosh, expressed joy over the ruling, stating it is a result of their ongoing protests. He remarked, “This is a victory for all state government employees who have long been denied their rightful Dearness Allowance. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the West Bengal government must pay the outstanding DA. This is the outcome of our struggle lasting over 1,100 days.”
Ghosh thanked all the lawyers, organizations, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Shuvendu Adhikari, along with senior lawyer Vikas Bhattacharya, for their support during the movement. He urged the state government to comply with the Supreme Court’s order without delay and release the DA to the employees.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered the Mamata Banerjee government to pay 25% of the pending DA to state government employees by March 31. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra, also directed the formation of a four-member committee to decide on the payment of the remaining 75% DA.
This bench had reserved its decision on the matter last August. Earlier, on May 16, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order directing the state government to provide 25% of the DA within three months. However, the Mamata Banerjee government had requested a six-month extension, citing a lack of funds.
Leader of the Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari hailed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling as a victory for the fundamental rights of government employees. He stated in a social media post, “The Supreme Court has upheld the fundamental rights of state government employees regarding DA. Today, Mamata Banerjee has been proven wrong, as she repeatedly claimed that DA is not an entitlement for employees. The highest court of the land has clarified that DA is not a grant but a legitimate right of the employees.”
BJP leader Shuvendu Adhikari noted that after years of struggle and a long wait, state government employees are finally set to receive their rightful dues as per the court’s order.
Central Minister of State for Education and North Eastern Region Development, Sukanta Majumdar, also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. He remarked, “After a long struggle and unwavering determination, state government employees are now in a position to receive their DA under legal rights. This historic achievement is a testament to the unity, patience, and resilience of the employees.”
Senior Left Front leader and lawyer Vikas Bhattacharya described the ruling as a significant blow to the state government. He stated, “If the government has any shame, it should release the pending DA without wasting any time. The government has unnecessarily squandered time and resources fighting and delaying this matter.”
From the Congress party, Ashutosh Chatterjee mentioned that the party has always stood by state government employees. He stated that the Supreme Court’s decision serves as a lesson for the Mamata Banerjee government, urging them to correct their mistakes.
However, the ruling Trinamool Congress party characterized the decision as a partial victory for the state government. Party spokesperson Arup Chakraborty noted, “The Supreme Court did not order the state government to pay 100% DA but only directed 25%. This clearly indicates that the court has made its decision with an understanding of the case’s sensitivity.”
Since 2022, this matter has seen 18 hearings postponed, as the Mamata Banerjee government appealed against contempt proceedings initiated by the Calcutta High Court in the Supreme Court.
In last year’s state budget, the DA for Bengal government employees was set at 18% of the basic salary, while there remains a gap of about 40% between the DA of central government employees and state employees.
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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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