West Bengal: The standoff between the State Government and its employees over pending Dearness Allowance (DA) has reached a boiling point. Despite significant observations from the Supreme Court regarding the matter, the state administration’s continued silence has prompted the Sangrami Joutha Mancha (a joint platform of state employees) to call for a widespread strike.

The organization has officially announced a ‘Bandh Mubarak’ program on March 13, which is expected to paralyze operations across all state government departments. State employees have been protesting for years, demanding DA parity with central government employees. While the matter reached the apex court, the protesters allege that the state government has failed to provide a concrete roadmap for the clearance of dues even after judicial intervention.

Unlike traditional strikes where employees stay home, the March 13 program introduces a different strategy of defiance: Members of the joint platform will report to their respective offices to mark their presence. Once inside, they will refrain from performing any official duties, signing files, or processing public requests. The term ‘Bandh Mubarak’ is being used to highlight their "celebration" of protest against what they call the government’s administrative apathy.

With the strike scheduled for a working day, public services at the State Secretariat (Nabanna), district offices, and block-level departments are likely to be severely hit. While the employees remain firm, the general public may face significant hurdles in obtaining government certificates, land records, and other essential administrative services.

The state government has yet to issue an official response or a circular regarding potential disciplinary action for those participating in the strike.