WB Da Arrears: As per Supreme Court verdict, for which period will West Bengal employees get DA arrears

Wb Da Arrears: After a prolonged legal battle, there is finally a sigh of relief for West Bengal government employees. The Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that Dearness Allowance (DA) is not a charity or a grant from the state government, but a legal right earned by the employees. In a historic interim order dated February 5, 2026, the apex court has directed the state government to settle the pending DA arrears. This verdict serves as a massive victory not only for current employees but also for pensioners and family pensioners.

The Calculation Period for DA Arrears

Following the recent court ruling, all confusion regarding the timeline for DA arrears has been cleared. The Supreme Court has specified that the arrears due to the employees cover the period from April 1, 2008, to December 31, 2019.

Naturally, the question arises: why this specific timeframe? The primary reason lies in the implementation periods of the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) rules. ROPA 2009 became effective from April 1, 2008, while the subsequent ROPA 2019 came into effect on January 1, 2020. Therefore, the court has held the state government accountable for clearing the DA that remained unpaid during the interim period between these two pay commissions. Those who retired during this window will also receive benefits on a pro-rata basis.

Payment Methodology and Judicial Committee

The court has adopted a two-pronged approach regarding how the arrears will be disbursed:

• Immediate 25% Payment: The court has issued strict instructions to immediately clear the 25% arrears that were previously mentioned in the order dated May 16, 2025, without any further delay.
• Settlement of the Remaining 75%: To determine how the remaining 75% of the arrears will be paid—whether in cash or credited to the Provident Fund (PF), and in how many installments—a special high-level committee comprising retired judges has been formed.

Deadlines and Next Steps

Timelines are crucial for the disbursement of funds. The newly formed committee must finalize its framework by March 6, 2026. According to the court’s directive, the first installment of the remaining 75% arrears must be paid by March 31, 2026. The state government is bound to follow the committee’s recommendations.

To ensure the entire process is being properly implemented, the state is required to submit a ‘Compliance Report’ or status report. The next hearing date to review this matter has been set for April 15, 2026. After a long wait, this verdict has ignited a ray of hope among government employees.