WB DA News: Is DA Not Mandatory? Employee Leader Refutes CM Claims With Supreme Court Verdict Message

WB DA News: The conflict regarding Dearness Allowance (DA) for West Bengal government employees shows no signs of resolution. On one side, the State Government claims that providing DA is not mandatory, while on the other, employee unions stand firm on their demands, citing court verdicts. Recently, Malay Mukherjee, a prominent leader of the government employees’ union, sharply reacted to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comments on DA, asserting that DA is a constitutional right of the employees, not an act of charity by the government.

Is DA Really Optional for the Government?

Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent statement that “DA is not mandatory,” Malay Mukherjee refuted the claim, terming it baseless from a legal standpoint. He highlighted the following points:

• Clear Court Verdicts: Both the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) and the Calcutta High Court have already ruled that Dearness Allowance is a legal and constitutional right of government employees. It is not a matter of the government’s benevolence or mercy.
• Right to Property: Legally, DA is considered a ‘proprietary right’ of the employees. It is the government’s responsibility to protect the value of employees’ salaries in alignment with the rising market prices and inflation.
• Contempt of Court: Employee leaders believe that labeling DA as “not mandatory” while the case is sub-judice in the Supreme Court and previous High Court rulings remain in force is tantamount to contempt of court.

Fact-Checking the Claim of 8% Annual DA

The State Government has claimed that it is providing DA to employees at an average rate of 8% per year. Challenging this statistic, Malay Mukherjee presented a counter-calculation. According to his data:

• The Reality: The 6th Pay Commission came into effect on January 1, 2020. Since then, over the last five years, the State Government has released DA in only five installments (3%, 3%, 4%, 4%, and 4%). This totals to only 18%.
• Discrepancy in Calculation: If DA were indeed given at 8% annually as claimed, employees should have received a total of 40% DA over five years. However, in reality, they are stuck at just 18%.
• Gap with Central Rate: According to Mr. Mukherjee, Central Government employees are currently receiving 58% DA. In comparison, with state employees receiving only 18%, they are effectively getting about 40 rupees less for every 100 rupees compared to their central counterparts.

Criticism of the Pay Commission

Malay Mukherjee also raised serious questions about the role of the 6th Pay Commission. He leveled grave allegations against the Commission’s Chairman, Abhirup Sarkar. The union leader alleged that Mr. Sarkar, either under political pressure or intentionally, omitted recommendations to follow the ‘All India Consumer Price Index’ (AICPI) in the report. Using strong language, he criticized the Chairman for allegedly being subservient to the government and sacrificing the employees’ interests to favor the state administration.

Current Status of the Supreme Court Case

Lakhs of government employees are now looking toward the Supreme Court for a final verdict. Regarding the current status of the case, Malay Mukherjee informed:

• The final hearing of the case concluded on September 8, and the judgment has been kept reserved.
• There was an expectation that the verdict might come by December. However, the Supreme Court’s winter vacation begins on December 19, and the court will reopen on January 2, 2026.
• It is expected that the judgment might be pronounced after the court resumes full operation post-January 5, 2026. Employee unions remain optimistic that the verdict will be in their favor.

2026 Elections and the Future of Pensions

Focusing on the upcoming 2026 Assembly Elections, employee unions have made their stance clear. They accuse the current government of engaging in “dole politics.” According to them, the government is willing to spend money to secure 100 votes elsewhere but is reluctant to spend on government employees who represent 50 votes. Malay Mukherjee expressed apprehension that if the current government remains in power, the pension system might also be stopped in the future.