New Delhi/IBNS, Feb. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to release 25 percent of the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) by March 31, 2026, and the remaining amount by May 15, 2026, upholding its earlier order, media reports said.

The judgement comes on the same day the Mamata Banerjee-led government is scheduled to present the state Budget in the Assembly, just a couple of months ahead of the elections.

The committee has been directed to submit its report to the court by May 15.

Sangrami Joutha Mancha, a forum of protesting state government employees that has been camping in central Kolkata for years, warned the government of an unprecedented protest if the order is not implemented.

In May last year, t...