Dearness allowance: Organisations express strong resentment over government's stand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Employees’ organisations have expressed strong resentment over the government’s stand that dearness allowance (DA) is not an employee right, that it is a policy decision of the government, and that clearing DA arrears would place a heavy financial burden on the state. Opposition-aligned organisations and the NGO Sangh have openly opposed the government’s position, while pro-government organisations are said to be in a dilemma.

The NGO Association has already launched protests against the non-payment of DA arrears and the denial of retrospective effect to the DA already announced. The organisation has decided to take further action after the High Court delivers its verdict based on the government’s affidavit. The Secretariat Action Council has warned that it will launch a strong agitation if the affidavit is not corrected.

Six instalments of DA are yet to be sanctioned. Employees are entitled to receive around Rs 17,770 crore as arrears alone, if the retrospective effect is granted for the five instalments already announced.

Employees’ organisations pointed out that when the West Bengal government challenged a Calcutta High Court verdict favourable to employees, the Supreme Court ruled that DA is indeed an employee right. Similar verdicts have been delivered by several High Courts, they said, adding that the Kerala government’s move ignores these judgments.

“The government gave incorrect information in the case in the High Court. The court has earlier ruled that salary includes DA and allowances. The case is pending before the tribunal. The situation demands a strong protest,” said A.M. Jaffer Khan, state president of the NGO Association.

“By stating that DA is not a right, the government aims to steal the wages of the employees. Through which legislation did the government adopt a new method for granting DA? The Pinarayi Vijayan administration has turned into a self-proclaimed anti-worker government,” said M.S. Irshad, convener of the Secretariat Action Council.

P. Sunilkumar, national vice president of the NGO Sangh, said it was unjustifiable to collect funds from the Centre and then deny them to eligible beneficiaries. “DA is announced in proportion to the price rise. The Supreme Court and other courts have clearly stated that DA is an employee right. Decisions on protests and other actions will be taken after the High Court verdict in the present case,” he said.