DA Arrears: WB DA Arrears Payment Breakdown Group Wise Amount and Calculation Explained

DA Arrears: Following a protracted legal battle, a recent directive from the Supreme Court has ignited hope among West Bengal state government employees regarding their Dearness Allowance (DA). The Apex Court has instructed the state to clear 25% of the DA arrears pending under the 5th Pay Commission. While the state government is yet to release an official notification or initiate the disbursement process, discussions are rife within employee circles about the potential payout amounts.

The court has set a deadline of March 31 for clearing this 25% portion. Based on calculations by various employee unions, a projected breakdown of the arrears has emerged.

Estimated Arrears Based on Employee Groups

According to estimates provided by government employee organizations, the total accumulated arrears vary significantly across different pay grades. The calculation considers the period from 2008 to 2019 under the 5th Pay Commission. It is important to note that employees can currently claim 25% of these total figures as per the SC order:

• Group A: For high-ranking officials, the total arrears could range between ₹13 Lakh to ₹13.5 Lakh per head.
• Group B (and Primary ‘A’ Category): Employees in this bracket are looking at total arrears of approximately ₹9 Lakh to ₹9.5 Lakh.
• Group B (Lower Level): For lower-level employees in this group, the pending amount is estimated to be around ₹6 Lakh.
• Group D: Even for Group D staff, the accumulated amount is substantial, estimated between ₹3 Lakh to ₹3.5 Lakh per person.

Impact of Service Tenure on Calculation

The amount an individual receives depends heavily on their service timeline between 2008 and December 31, 2019.

• Full Tenure: Employees who were in service in 2008 and continued working through December 31, 2019, will be eligible for the maximum calculation of arrears.
• Retired Mid-term: For those who were employed in 2008 but retired before 2019, the calculation is split. They will receive arrears on their basic pay for their service period, and subsequent arrears will be calculated based on their pension (Dearness Relief) from the date of retirement until the cutoff date in 2019.

Financial Burden on the State

Preliminary calculations suggest that clearing just this 25% of the arrears will cost the state exchequer approximately ₹10,400 Crore. All eyes are now on the state government to see how and when they will implement this order amidst the financial pressure.