SC Directs West Bengal Govt to Recalculate DA, Pay Arrears by March 31

• The Supreme Court has directed the West Bengal government to recalculate Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees from 2008 to 2019.
• DA must be calculated as per the formula laid down in the ROPA Rules, and arrears from 2009 to 2019 must be released.
• A committee, headed by former SC judge Justice Indu Malhotra, will determine DA payment and set a schedule, with the exercise to be completed by March 6, 2026.
• The first installment of arrears is ordered to be paid by March 31, 2026, extending benefits to retired employees.
• The SC deemed the state government's decision to change DA rules as arbitrary and capricious, emphasizing that fiscal policy cannot override employees' conferred rights.