West Bengal DA Arrears: Employees To Get Seven Years’ Dues Before Durga Puja

The West Bengal government will pay pending dearness allowance (DA) to eligible state government employees for the period from April 2008 to December 2015. The payment covers seven years of unpaid DA and is expected to be completed before Durga Puja.

The state Finance Department has also laid down how the money will be given to employees. The payment method will differ based on the employee’s group and whether the employee is close to retirement.

Seven Years Of Pending DA Dues

The latest order covers DA due from April 1, 2008, to December 31, 2015. The state government will pay the eligible amount in one instalment.

The amount will be worked out based on the employee’s pay and the DA rates that applied during the period. If an employee has already received any amount for this period, that payment will be taken into account while working out the balance.

The latest payment covers the earlier part of the total DA dues for the 2008-2019 period.

Different Payment Rules For Employee Groups

The way employees receive the money will depend on their group. For employees in Groups A, B and C, the DA arrears will be added to their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts. The amount credited to these accounts cannot be withdrawn until March 31, 2028.

Group D employees will receive the money directly in their bank accounts. Employees who are due to retire within three months will also get their DA arrears directly in their bank accounts.

Therefore, employees in different groups will have different access to the money being paid.

Earlier Arrears Covered 2016 To 2019

The state government had already started the process of paying DA arrears for the period from January 2016 to December 2019. An earlier order provided for payment of these dues in two instalments. The first instalment was scheduled for March, while the second was due in September.

The latest order deals with the period before 2016. Together, the two payment decisions cover DA arrears for the 2008-2019 period for eligible employees.

Supreme Court Directions Behind The Payment

The DA dispute involving West Bengal government employees relates to the payment of DA under the state’s service rules.

In February 2026, the Supreme Court dealt with the dispute over DA arrears for the period from April 2008 to December 2019. The court also set up a monitoring process for the implementation of its directions.

Following the court’s directions, the state government has issued orders for different parts of the pending DA amount.

Payment Process Before Durga Puja

The Finance Department has directed officials to complete the payment process for the April 2008 to December 2015 period before Durga Puja. The amount due to each employee will be worked out using their pay records and other relevant details.

The department has also issued instructions for cases where some employee records are not available in the state’s Human Resources Management System.

The latest order sets out how eligible employees will receive the pending DA for the seven-year period, based on their employee group.