There is a long-running dispute between the West Bengal government and its employees regarding the payment of Dearness Allowance (DA). In such a situation, on Thursday (04 February), the apex court gave a big relief to about 20 lakh employees, giving a shock to the Bengal government.
The court said in its order that payment of dearness allowance is an enforceable right. The court directed that DA arrears for the period from 2008 to 2019 should be paid. Referring to the interim order, the court also made it clear that at least 25% of the total dues should be released by March 6.
Order to form a four-member committee
A division bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra gave this order. The bench has also ordered the state government to constitute a four-member committee to take a decision on the remaining 75 percent dearness allowance.
Let us tell you that this same bench had reserved its decision in this matter in August last year. In an interim order passed on May 16 last year, the Supreme Court had directed the state government to pay 25 per cent of dearness allowance to its employees ‘within three months’. However, later the Mamata Banerjee government, citing lack of funds, had appealed to the Supreme Court to extend the deadline by six months.
After the court order, BJP surrounded Mamata government
On the Supreme Court order, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said, ‘They (West Bengal government) were harassing and cheating government employees for a long time. The government had no desire to give him DA. This government is a government of Khela and Bela, but now this government will have to pay 25 percent of the rupees (by March 6).
West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, ‘This was a long pending issue, on which the decision has been taken today. We welcome it. DA is a right demand, we supported the employees for this. (Till March 6) Mamata Banerjee’s government will have to pay Rs 10,400 in March. DA’s demand is correct, this has been established today by the order of the Supreme Court. After April, there will be no government here to protect infiltrators.
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