Kolkata – The West Bengal government has warned state employees that their salaries will be docked if they participate in a planned strike on March 13. The strike is being organized by the Sangrami Joutha Mancha, a collective of employees protesting the delayed payment of dearness allowance (DA) arrears.
Dispute Escalates Despite Court Ruling
The government’s warning comes after the Calcutta High Court previously directed the state to clear the outstanding DA payments. That decision was then appealed to the Supreme Court of India. On February 5, the Supreme Court ruled that DA is a legal right for state employees and ordered the state to pay 25 percent of the arrears in two installments, with the first payment due by March 31.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, the dispute continues. Sangrami Joutha Mancha leader Bhaskar Ghosh stated, “All of India follows the law laid down by the Supreme Court, but in Bengal, the law functions at the direction of one person. The semifinal is over, the final will be played on March 13.”
Attendance Mandated, Verification Underway
The state administration has declared that all government offices will remain open on March 13 and attendance is mandatory. Employees who are absent without a valid reason will have their absence marked as “dies non,” resulting in a loss of pay. Exceptions will be made for documented cases of serious illness, hospitalization, bereavement, maternity leave, or previously approved leave.
Departments have been instructed to verify attendance by March 30 and report their findings. The state government has informed the Supreme Court that verifying records for over 3.17 lakh employees is necessary and that many pre-2016 records are handwritten, requiring digitization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the strike?
The strike was called by the Sangrami Joutha Mancha to protest the non-payment of pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears.
What did the Supreme Court rule regarding DA payments?
The Supreme Court ruled on February 5 that DA is a legal right and directed the state to pay 25 percent of arrears in two installments, with the first payment due by March 31.
What will happen to employees who participate in the strike?
Employees absent without valid reasons on March 13 will be marked “dies non” and will have their salary deducted.
How will the ongoing dispute between the West Bengal government and its employees ultimately be resolved?
