In a major legal defeat for the West Bengal government, the Supreme Court today ordered the immediate disbursement of 25% of the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears to state employees. The apex court has set a strict deadline, directing the Nabanna administration to clear the dues—amounting to approximately ₹10,468 crore—by March 5, 2026.

The bench emphasized that DA is a statutory right of employees under the ROPA rules and cannot be treated as a discretionary gift. To resolve the remaining 75% of the arrears, which totals over ₹31,000 crore, the court has directed the formation of a four-member committee headed by a retired judge to formulate a phased payment plan.

As the verdict reached the ‘Mancha’ at Dharmatala, where employees have been protesting for over a year, scenes of wild celebration broke out. Protesters were seen playing with ‘Abir’ (colored powder) and raising slogans of victory. This judgment comes as a massive blow to the state government, especially since it coincides with the presentation of the state budget. Legal experts believe this verdict sets a strong precedent for employee rights across the country.