WB DA Case Update: The Supreme Court of India has issued fresh directions in the long-pending West Bengal Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears case, ordering its court-appointed Monitoring Committee to hold direct consultations with employee representatives. Following proceedings on August 19, 2026, before a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, the apex court granted eight weeks to the panel to complete discussions and submit a supplementary report.
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Scope of Monitoring Committee Consultations
Having previously submitted progress reports on April 30, July 22, and August 3, 2026, the former judge-led Monitoring Committee will now engage face-to-face with union leaders to resolve technical and administrative standoffs.
Designated representatives attending the upcoming discussions include:
- Sangrami Joutha Mancha: Convenor Bhaskar Ghosh and Abhijit Upadhyay.
- Confederation of State Govt Employees: Firdous Shamim, Gopa Biswas, and Shyamal Kumar Mitra.
- New Unity Forum: Karuna Nundy, Bipul Kumar, and Nirmoy Srimani.
- Old Unity Forum: Prabir Chatterjee and Debaprasad Haldar.
Grant-in-Aid Issues and Funds Disbursed
During the hearing, legal counsel representing the Sangrami Joutha Mancha highlighted that Grant-in-Aid personnel including teachers and staff at state-aided institutions have not received any portion of their DA arrears. Countering this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the state government has already disbursed Rs 7,700 crore toward clearing pending dues.
State submissions reveal two distinct payment routes. Group-D staff received direct cash deposits into their salary accounts, whereas arrears for regular non-Group-D cadre employees were routed to their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts. Addressing why Grant-in-Aid personnel were excluded from this process will form a main agenda item during the committee’s consultations.
Current Disbursement Status of DA Arrears
| Employee Category | Mode of Payment | Present Payment Status |
|---|---|---|
| Group-D Staff | Direct Cash Credit to Salary Account | Disbursed (As per State submission) |
| Other Cadre Employees | Credited to General Provident Fund (GPF) | Accumulated in GPF Accounts |
| Grant-in-Aid Teachers & Staff | No Arrears Received Yet | Subject to upcoming committee review |
Meanwhile, a definitive payout timeline for Grant-in-Aid staff remains pending. Their outcome hinges entirely on the supplementary report due within eight weeks. The Supreme Court has slated the next hearing for October 27, 2026, where a newly constituted bench will take up the matter, as Justice Sanjay Karol demits office later this month.
