Arrear DA Case: The case regarding the 25% pending Dearness Allowance (DA) for West Bengal government employees has taken a new turn. A contempt of court case has been filed against the state government in the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court. Employee organizations are hopeful that the case will be heard after the summer vacation. Malay Mukhopadhyay, the General Secretary of the Confederation of State Government Employees, has spoken out on the matter, providing details on the current status of the case.
Current Status of the Case
- Warning Was Sent: The petitioner’s lawyer, Ferdous Samim, had specifically warned the state’s Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary on the night of the 26th. They were informed that a contempt of court case would be filed if arrangements to pay the pending DA were not made by the 27th. This application was sent to the Supreme Court via email.
- Contempt Petition Filed: As the state government took no action within the specified deadline, a contempt of court petition has finally been filed in the Supreme Court. The case has been registered in the bench of Justice Sanjay Karole.
- Efforts for a Hearing: With the Supreme Court reopening on July 14th, the lawyers have stated that they will try to mention the case and get the contempt petition heard. There is a possibility of the hearing taking place between mid-July and August 4th.
- Next Hearing Date: Although obtaining a specific date depends on the Supreme Court, it has been confirmed that the case is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on August 4th.
Employee Expectations
West Bengal government employees have been fighting for their rightful DA arrears for a long time. This new legal step has brought a renewed sense of hope among them. They are optimistic that the Supreme Court’s intervention will finally compel the state government to accept their demands and pay the pending DA. On behalf of the Confederation of State Government Employees, Malay Mukhopadhyay has stated that they will continue this legal battle and make every effort to secure the employees’ rights. It remains to be seen which direction this case will take in the coming days and when the state government employees will finally receive their due rights.
