The long-standing battle for Dearness Allowance (DA) in West Bengal has taken a dramatic turn with a fresh petition filed in the Calcutta High Court. While the main case continues in the Supreme Court, the ‘Unity Forum’ has now moved the High Court, targeting the discrepancies in the state’s recent DA notification and the ROPA 2019 implementation.

The petition highlights two critical gaps: the non-payment of 48 months of DA arrears from January 2016 to December 2019, and the exclusion of DA provisions from the ROPA 2019 guidelines. The employees argue that DA is a statutory legal right and must be aligned with the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI).

The outcome of this case, scheduled for hearing on April 6, will directly impact school teachers and all state government employees. Legal experts suggest that this new plea is a strategic move to secure specific arrears that remained unaddressed. With widespread dissatisfaction over the Nabanna notification, all eyes are now on the High Court for a decisive ruling.