DA Case Update: Legal Notice Served to West Bengal Government for Immediate Compliance

DA Case Update: The ongoing legal battle regarding the Dearness Allowance (DA) for West Bengal state government employees has taken a significant turn. Following the recent directive from the Supreme Court, the Unity Forum has served a legal notice directly to the state government. This move is expected to ramp up pressure on the state administration to comply with the judicial orders.

Legal Notice to Top Officials

The notice has been sent to Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, Prabhat Kumar Mishra, demanding immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s order. The document was served through senior Advocate Prabir Chatterjee. It explicitly references the Civil Appeal and Special Leave Petition, reminding the administration of their obligation to adhere to the apex court’s ruling.

Committee Formation and Deadlines

The legal notice places significant emphasis on the Supreme Court’s interim direction regarding the formation of a special committee. As per the court’s order, this committee will include:

• Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan (Former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court).
• A representative from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
• A senior-most officer from the department.

The Supreme Court has set a strict timeline. The state has been directed to clear the first installment of the DA payment and submit the committee’s report by March 2026. The case is scheduled to be listed again on April 15, 2026, to verify compliance with these orders.

Highlighting Wage Discrimination

The notice presents data illustrating a stark “Gross Discrimination” among employees working under the same government rules (ROPA 2009) based solely on their location. The comparison highlights:

• State government employees posted at Banga Bhawan (New Delhi) or Youth Hostels (Chennai) are receiving DA at a rate of 164%.
• In contrast, employees working within West Bengal are receiving only 125% DA.

This calculation points out that, as of 2019, domestic employees were deprived of 39% of their due allowance compared to their counterparts outside the state.

Warning Against Non-Compliance

In the concluding section of the notice, the Unity Forum has cautioned the state government to strictly adhere to the timeframe set by the Apex Court. It warns that failure to comply with the deadline could lead to further complex litigation and legal consequences for the state. This legal notice is seen as a robust step by the employees to secure their rightful dues.