West Bengal DA: New Information in DA Case! Sensation Over Response to RTI, Will it Affect the Case?
West Bengal DA: A recent Right to Information (RTI) response has added a new dimension to the long-standing battle of state government employees over the DA (Dearness Allowance) case. In response to an RTI filed by Mr. Palash Dutta of Durgapur, the Finance Department of the Government of West Bengal has released an account of the number of employees receiving DA, sparking fresh speculation about the future of the DA case. This RTI response was given on July 22, 2025, and is likely to be presented as a crucial document in the DA case hearing.
What Information Emerged from the RTI Response?
According to the information provided by the Finance Department, a clear picture has emerged of how many employees in various departments of the state are entitled to Dearness Allowance or DA. This data is primarily based on the HRMS (Human Resource Management System) data. Let’s take a look at how many employees are eligible for DA in which department:
- State Government Employees: 314,220
- AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) Department: 1,631
- UGC (University Grants Commission): 269
- Wages Pay-Scale Employees: 1,888
- Grant-in-Aid (under HRMS): 20,123
In total, 340,131 state government employees have been reported to be entitled to DA. This statistic can act as significant evidence in the DA case, as the government can now mention a specific number in court.
Who is Excluded from this Calculation?
However, the information provided in this RTI response does not present a complete picture. This is because employees and pension recipients from several sectors have not been included in this calculation. The RTI response clearly states that the following individuals are excluded from this account:
- State government pensioners and family pensioners.
- Employees of government-aided schools and certain other institutions that do not fall under the HRMS module of the IFMS.
- Information on teachers in government-aided schools is also not included in this statistic.
This omission could further complicate the DA case, as the total number of DA recipients is likely to be much higher.
What is the Future of the DA Case?
Although this RTI response adds a new dimension to the DA case, it is difficult to say what its final impact will be. The case is pending in court, and much will depend on how this information is used in the subsequent hearings. However, the release of this information has instilled fresh hope among the state government employees. They hope that based on this data, the court will be able to reach a fair decision and they will not be deprived of their rightful dues. The direction the DA case hearing takes in the coming days will be closely watched by lakhs of government employees and pensioners in the state.
