New Delhi, April 15: The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on the West Bengal government’s petition regarding modifications to the ruling on the dearness allowance (DA) for state employees. The government sought an extension for the payment deadline for employees’ DA, but the hearing did not take place on Wednesday. The next hearing is scheduled for May 6.
This case is crucial for millions of employees in West Bengal concerning their dearness allowance payments. The Mamata Banerjee government has requested the Supreme Court to extend the deadline. They argue that they have already taken several steps in compliance with the court’s directives.
During the hearing, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, stated that the committee’s recommendations have been accepted, and approximately ₹6,000 crores have already been disbursed to employees. He also mentioned that the committee has been tasked with gathering information on pending cases and continuing the payment process, which the government is actively pursuing.
Meanwhile, employee organizations have accused the government of failing to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s orders. They have filed a contempt petition in court, claiming that payments were not made within the stipulated timeframe.
It is noteworthy that on February 5, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a significant order directing the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the dearness allowance dues from 2008 to 2019 by March 31. Additionally, the court established a special committee, chaired by former judge Justice Indu Malhotra, to oversee the remaining 75% payment.
This committee comprises three former judges tasked with determining how and when the remaining amount will be disbursed. The court has made it clear that the dearness allowance is a legal right of employees and cannot be overlooked. This ruling is expected to benefit around 2 million employees in the state.
Leave a Comment