The Supreme Court on Friday instructed the West Bengal government to pay 25 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees. The court gave the state three months to complete the payment.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta issued the order. The court will hear the matter again in August.

The issue started when a group of West Bengal government employees approached the Calcutta High Court. They requested DA at par with central government employees. In May 2022, the High Court directed the state to pay DA at central government rates.

The West Bengal government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court in November 2022. Since then, the state has raised the DA on multiple occasions. However, the rate remains significantly lower than the central government’s. A 37 per cent gap still exists.

As of April 1, 2025, West Bengal government employees receive 18 per cent DA. This includes a recent 4 per cent hike. Many employees have expressed dissatisfaction, saying the increase is not enough.

Dearness Allowance is additional money paid by the government to employees and pensioners. It helps them manage rising inflation. It is calculated as a percentage of the basic salary or pension.

This Supreme Court order to pay 25 per cent DA will affect over 10 lakh employees and pensioners in West Bengal. The order is expected to provide some relief as they continue to demand better compensation.

The BJP welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. The party criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led government and described the verdict as a “landmark order.”

“This is a major victory for West Bengal government employees and BJP Bengal. After a long legal battle and multiple attempts by the state government – nearly 17 adjournments to delay proceedings – the Supreme Court has finally delivered a landmark order,” BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya wrote in a post on X.

Malviya also stated, “The BJP will ensure that government employees in West Bengal receive what they are owed and that Mamata Banerjee is held accountable.”