Release of Arrears of Dearness Allowance of 18 months to Central Govt Employees and Pensioners
“As the adverse financial impact of pandemic in 2020 and the financing of welfare measures taken by Government had a fiscal spill over beyond Financial Year 2020-21, release of arrears of DA/DR was not considered feasible.”
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Rajya Sabha
Unstarred Question No. 689
To be answered on Tuesday, 13 December, 2022
Agrahayana 22, 1944 (Saka)
Release of arrears of Dearness Relief of 18 months to pensioners
689: Shri Naranbhai J. Rathwa:
Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received several representations regarding the release of arrears of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners of 18 months i.e. from January 2020 to June, 2021:
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether Government is sincerely considering the release of 18 months arrears to pensioners, if not, the reasons therefor?
Answer
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Pankaj Chaudhary)
{a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Several Representations regarding release of arrears of 18 months of DA/DR payable to Central Government employees/pensioners have been received from. various Central Government employees/pensioners’ associations such as National Council (JCM), National Federation of Indian Railway Men (NFIR), All India Railway Men’s Federation (AIRF), All India Retired Railway Men’s Federation (AIRRF), JCOs/OR Veterans Association (JOVA), Bhartiya Railway Karamchari Union (BRKU), Bhartiya Pension Manch, National Ex-Servicemen Co-ordination Committee and Veteran Association etc.,
{c) The decision to freeze three instalments of DA/DR to Central Government employee/pensioners due from 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 & 01.01.2021 was taken in the context of COVID-19 which caused economic disruption so as to ease pressure on Government finances.
As the adverse financial impact of pandemic in 2020 and the financing of welfare measures taken by Government had a fiscal spill over beyond Financial Year 2020-21, release of arrears of DA/DR was not considered feasible.
Source: Rajya Sabha Q&A
18 Months DA Arrears from 1.1.2020 to 30.6.2021 – NC JCM Staff Side Secretary writes to Cabinet Secretary
Payment of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief w.e.f. 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020, and 01.01.2021 with the arrears: National Council (Staff Side) JCM Secretary writes to Cabinet Secretary on 18th August 2022 regarding the DA arrears for 18 months and the Staff-Side is ready to discuss about the mode of arrears payment.
Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
Ph.: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
E-Mail: nc.jcm.np[at]gmail.com
No.NC-JCM-2022/CS(PM)
Dated August 18, 2022
The Cabinet Secretary,
(Government of India)
&
Chairman, National Council(JCM)
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
Sub: Payment of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief w.e.f. 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020, and 01.01.2021 with the arrears
Ref.:(i) Secretary, National Council(JCM)’s letter No.NC-JCM-2021/CS/PM/(DA) dated 17.07.2021 followed by a reminder dated 27.12.2021
(ii) NC-JCM Item No.NC-48/6/2021.
This issue of payment of Dearness Allowance / Dearness Relief, w.e.f 01.01.2020. 01.07.2020 and 01.01.2021, with the arrears, had been discussed in detail, and it was pointed out that the Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide judgment dated 08.02.2021 in Civil Appeal No 399 of 2021 (arising out of SLP(C) No 12553 of 2020), had decided that the Salaries and Pension constitute rightful entitlement of the employees and are payable in accordance with the law.
Legitimate payment of Dearness Allowance arrears for 18 months need to be considered sympathetically as all the Central Government Employees were on duty during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the financial situation has also improved post-COVID era, hence you are requested to take necessary action and issue necessary instructions for payment of arrears of Dearness Allowance for 18 months.
Staff Side is ready to discuss about the mode of arrears payment.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
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