In a landmark judgment that brings massive relief to over 10 lakh state government employees and teachers, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday upheld the previous ruling on Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears. The apex court explicitly stated that DA is a fundamental right of employees under the ROPA rules and cannot be denied by the state government.

The bench has directed the West Bengal government to clear 25% of the total pending DA arrears by March 5. Based on the calculated figures, the total outstanding amount from 2009 to 2019 stands at a staggering ₹41,871 crore. To comply with the 25% immediate payout, the state exchequer will need to disburse approximately ₹10,468 crore within the next month.

The beneficiaries include 4 lakh government employees, 5 lakh teachers, and nearly 1.5 lakh pensioners. Furthermore, to address the remaining 75% of the arrears, the Supreme Court has ordered the formation of a four-member committee headed by a retired judge. This committee will deliberate and decide on the installment structure and timeline for the full settlement of dues. While the state government awaits the full copy of the judgment, employee unions across the state have hailed this as a victory for justice.