DA Arrears: Will Teachers Get DA Arrears By March 31? Read the Big Update
DA Arrears: Following the recent landmark judgment by the Honorable Supreme Court, the path has been cleared for all levels of state employees to receive their pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears. The apex court explicitly stated that every employee under the state’s jurisdiction is eligible for this benefit. As per the court’s directive, 25 percent of the pending amount must be cleared immediately, while the first installment of the remaining balance is to be paid within a stipulated timeframe. However, the subsequent administrative notifications have sparked severe confusion and dissatisfaction among teachers and educational staff.
Allegations of Ambiguity and Discrimination
The recently published government notification clearly specifies a deadline for clearing the dues of regular state government employees. Unfortunately, the situation remains entirely vague for school teachers and non-teaching staff. For them, the order merely states that action will be taken once the respective departments forward the calculations, without fixing any concrete deadline.
This disparity is also evident on the technological front. The salary portal for state government employees, WBIFMS, is actively undergoing maintenance to upload e-Service books. In stark contrast, the OSMS portal, dedicated to teachers, shows zero activity regarding this vital update. This delay is particularly frustrating because years of digital records are already safely stored within the OSMS system, making data retrieval remarkably straightforward.
Core Demands of the Teachers Association
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the ‘All Post Graduate Teachers Welfare Association’ has submitted a formal deputation to the Commissioner of School Education and the Additional Chief Secretary. One of their most critical demands revolves around the DA arrears spanning from 2008 to 2015. While the notification for state government employees explicitly mentions the arrears for this specific period, it has been completely omitted from the teachers’ notification. The association demands immediate inclusion of this clause.
Furthermore, the union has strongly demanded that the first installment of the DA arrears for all teachers, non-teaching staff, and education department pensioners must be disbursed by March 31.
Future Course of Action and Legal Warnings
If the administration fails to meet these demands within the specified timeline, the teachers’ associations have warned of larger agitations. They have made it clear that they will resort to peaceful and democratic protests if necessary. Additionally, if the first installment is not credited by the end of March, the concerned organizations are fully prepared to file a contempt of court case directly in the Supreme Court. It remains to be seen what immediate steps the government takes in the coming days to resolve this growing unrest.
