Pay 25% of pending DA to 20 lakh govt employees by March 31: SC to WB govt
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has directed the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) to its nearly 20 lakh state government employees by March 31. The court’s order comes as a major relief to the state’s government employees, who have been waiting for the payment of their pending DA for over a decade.
The Supreme Court’s directive is a result of a long-standing dispute between the West Bengal government and its employees over the payment of DA, which is a cost-of-living adjustment paid to government employees to help them cope with the rising costs of living. The state government had been withholding the payment of DA to its employees since 2008, citing financial constraints.
The court’s order specifies that the West Bengal government must pay 25% of the pending DA to its employees by March 31, and has also set up a high-level committee led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to calculate the exact arrears and fix a practical payment schedule. The committee will comprise of representatives from the state government, employee unions, and other stakeholders, and will be responsible for ensuring that the payment of DA is made in a timely and transparent manner.
The dispute over DA payment in West Bengal dates back to 2008, when the state government froze the payment of DA to its employees due to financial constraints. The employees, however, continued to receive a small portion of their DA, which was merged with their basic pay. The issue remained unresolved for over a decade, with the employees demanding the payment of their pending DA, and the state government citing its inability to pay due to financial constraints.
The Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter has come as a major relief to the state’s government employees, who have been waiting for the payment of their pending DA for over a decade. The court’s order is expected to benefit nearly 20 lakh state government employees, who will receive a significant amount of money as arrears.
The payment of DA is a critical component of a government employee’s salary, and is designed to help them cope with the rising costs of living. The non-payment of DA has resulted in a significant reduction in the take-home salary of government employees, making it difficult for them to meet their daily expenses.
The West Bengal government’s decision to withhold the payment of DA to its employees has been widely criticized by employee unions and other stakeholders. The unions have argued that the non-payment of DA is a violation of the employees’ rights, and has resulted in a significant reduction in their standard of living.
The Supreme Court’s order is a significant victory for the state’s government employees, who have been fighting for the payment of their pending DA for over a decade. The order is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of the employees, who will receive a significant amount of money as arrears.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s directive to the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the pending DA to its employees by March 31 is a significant development that is expected to benefit nearly 20 lakh state government employees. The court’s order is a major relief to the employees, who have been waiting for the payment of their pending DA for over a decade. The payment of DA is a critical component of a government employee’s salary, and is designed to help them cope with the rising costs of living.
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