Supreme Court Orders Mamata Govt to Pay 20 Lakh Employees Outstanding DA Before Holi

• The Supreme Court has delivered a significant setback to the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal regarding Dearness Allowance (DA).
• The verdict brings relief to approximately 20 lakh state government employees, upholding their right to outstanding DA.
• The court ordered the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the outstanding DA by March 6, before Holi, with the remaining 75% to be paid in installments.
• The outstanding DA covers the period from 2008 to 2019, and the decision was influenced by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's initiative.
• A committee led by former Supreme Court judge Indu Malhotra will determine the installment plan for the remaining DA, emphasizing that DA is a legally valid demand and must be paid according to ROPA rules and AICPI.