West Bengal DA: Stalemate Over DA Continues, State Remains Silent Despite Supreme Court’s Order
West Bengal DA: The long-standing battle over Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and teachers in West Bengal has taken a new turn. Frustration and disappointment are growing among employees as the state government has not provided any clear response even after the deadline set by the Supreme Court has passed. In this situation, state government employee organizations are preparing to file a contempt of court case, which could further escalate the conflict between the state administration and the employees.
Supreme Court’s Directive on DA
The Supreme Court had directed the state government to pay at least 25% of the outstanding DA within six weeks. Following this order, state government employees were hopeful that their long-pending demand would finally be met. However, the state government’s complete silence on the matter after the deadline has dashed those hopes.
The State Government’s Stance
According to a source in the state administration, the deadline for paying the DA was until Friday, June 27th. However, there has been no official announcement from the government on this matter. Even in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent press conference, the DA issue was avoided, which further angered the employees. This silence is being seen by the employees as a sign of the state government’s uncooperative attitude.
Actions of Employee Organizations
In protest against the state government’s silence, employee organizations have decided to take strict measures. The organizations have announced that they are planning to send legal notices to the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary. If they do not receive a satisfactory response within the specified time, they will file a contempt of court case in the Supreme Court.
- Organizations like the Confederation of State Government Employees, Sangrami Jautha Mancha, Unity Forum and the Karmachari Parishad are leading this legal battle.
- According to them, the state government has disrespected the court and is depriving the employees of their rightful dues.
Future Course of Action
It now remains to be seen what steps the state government will take in response to this legal notice. If the government remains silent, the conflict over DA could intensify further. Only time will tell how successful the employees will be in achieving their demands. However, it is certain that this incident has added a new dimension to the state’s politics.
