In a major relief for nearly 1.2 million West Bengal government employees and pensioners, the payment of long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears is set to commence this March. Following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court on February 5, 2026, the state government has been mandated to release at least 25% of the outstanding dues—accrued between 2008 and 2019—by March 31, 2026.

The Apex Court, while emphasizing that the state must act as a “Model Employer,” had constituted a high-level committee chaired by Justice Indu Malhotra to finalize the payment modalities. Despite the state government’s attempt to seek an extension citing financial constraints, the Supreme Court remained firm on the March deadline.

Payment Modalities: According to the Finance Department’s notification (996-F(P2)), the disbursal will follow specific criteria:

• Group D Employees: The arrears will be credited directly into their bank accounts as cash.
• Group A, B, and C Employees: The dues will be credited into their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts. These funds will remain locked for a period of 24 months before withdrawal is permitted.
• Retired Personnel: The benefits will also extend to those who retired during the decade-long litigation process.

This first phase of payment is expected to cost the state exchequer roughly ₹25,000 crore. Political analysts suggest that this court-mandated move, coming just weeks before the 2026 Assembly Elections, could significantly impact the mood of the state’s workforce. For the protesting employees under the ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’, this represents a massive victory for their sustained legal and democratic struggle for their rights.