West Bengal Government Announces 4% DA Hike for Government Employees Amid Legal Pressure In a significant development, the West Bengal government announced a 4% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees, effective from April 1, 2026. This decision comes amid mounting pressure from the Supreme Court, which had earlier mandated a 25% DA hike for all employees, with the remaining 75% to be fulfilled by March 31. The government’s move aims to address the legal directive while navigating administrative complexities. Supreme Court Directive and Government Response In February 2025, the Supreme Court directed the state government to provide a 25% DA hike to all employees, including those in the public sector. The court emphasized that the remaining 75% must be implemented by March 31, 2025. However, the government faced challenges in meeting this deadline, citing delays in verifying service records for employees hired before 2016. To comply with the court’s order, the state government submitted a fresh petition to the Supreme Court, explaining that the 25% hike could not be implemented immediately due to administrative hurdles. The court, however, reiterated its stance, urging the government to prioritize the welfare of employees. Confusion Over DA Hike and Budget Adjustments The confusion deepened with the release of the 2026 budget, which included an additional 4% DA hike for government employees. This brought the total DA to 22%, surpassing the initial 18% proposed. While the government framed this as fulfilling the Supreme Court’s directive, critics argue that the timing and methodology of the hike remain unclear.#west_bengal_government #trinamool_congress #supreme_court #bikash_ranjan_bhattacharya #2026_budget
