State employees move contempt plea, allege delay in 25% DA arrears payment despite SC directive

An organisation representing West Bengal government employees has issued a contempt of court notice to Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and State Finance Secretary Prabhat Kumar Mishra, alleging non-compliance with a recent Supreme Court order on Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears. The body has claimed that the State has failed to initiate concrete steps to release 25 percent DA arrears for the period between 2008 and 2019.

The notice refers to a Supreme Court order dated February 25, in which a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra held that West Bengal government employees are entitled to DA under statutory pay rules and that it is a legally enforceable right. The court directed the State to ensure payment of the arrears for the 2008–2019 period, in any case by the end of the 2025–26 financial year, that is, by March 31, 2026.

Counsel for the Confederation of State Government Employees, Firdous Shamim, said that despite the clear directive, the government has not yet initiated the process for payment of the 25 percent DA arrears. The organisation has alleged that the continued delay amounts to wilful disobedience of the Supreme Court’s order.