Demand for 7th Pay Commission! Employees’ Organisation Sends Notice to Nabanna, Possibility of Basic Salary Doubling?

7th Pay Commission: State employee organisations have once again become vocal about their demands. At a time when preparations for the 8th Pay Commission have begun at the central level, the ‘Unity Forum’ has sent an important notice to the state government demanding the formation of the 7th Pay Commission for West Bengal’s government employees. This legal notice has been sent to the state’s Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, causing a significant stir among state government employees.

Background and Reason for the Notice

On behalf of the ‘Unity Forum’, convenors Shri Debaprasad Halder and Shri Palash Dutta have issued this notice. Through the notice, they have sought to know what steps the state government has taken or is planning to take regarding the formation of the 7th Pay Commission for its employees. This move comes at a time when state employees are significantly lagging behind their central counterparts in terms of Dearness Allowance (DA).

The notice also brings up the issue of the 6th Pay Commission. It has been alleged that the 6th Pay Commission report was submitted almost four years late, in September 2019. The forum claims that this report contained multiple anomalies. It is alleged that the government deliberately delayed its submission based on the report of the then chairman, Shri Abhirup Sarkar, which deprived employees of nearly 48 months of basic pay, dearness allowance, and house rent allowance (HRA).

DA Disparity and Legal Battle

Currently, state employees receive 40% less DA compared to central employees. While central government employees get 58% DA, state employees receive only 18%. This vast disparity has been cited as a clear violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

A crucial anomaly has been highlighted: state government employees working at Banga Bhawan in New Delhi receive DA at a rate of 58%, whereas those working in West Bengal get a mere 18%. This decision by the state government has been termed “whimsical and malafide”. It has also been alleged that the state government has disregarded multiple orders from the Administrative Tribunal, Calcutta High Court, and the Supreme Court.

Key Demands of the Unity Forum

This notice, sent through Advocate Prabir Chatterjee, puts forward several clear demands from the Unity Forum:

• Immediate payment of 58% Dearness Allowance at the central rate, along with arrears. This should be merged with the basic pay as per ROPA 2019, with 10% interest, similar to the benefits received by Banga Bhawan employees.
• This entire process must be completed by 31st December 2025, avoiding any legal complications.
• A committee must be formed immediately to constitute the 7th Pay Commission in the state, based on the report of the central 8th Pay Commission.

Typically, a Pay Commission is formed every 10 years. Accordingly, the next commission should be constituted in 2026. If the 7th Pay Commission is formed and the fitment factor is even around 2, instead of the previous 2.58, an employee with a current basic pay of ₹30,000 could see it rise to nearly ₹60,000, which would significantly improve the financial condition of the employees.