As per a circular released to this effect, government employees in West Bengal have been prohibited from protesting during tiffin or lunch breaks. Failure to comply with the directions of the circular means that the protesting employees will be marked absent.

As protests over the issue of a hike in Dearness Allowance continue, a fraction of state government employees in the state of West Bengal are seemingly dissatisfied with the government's take on the question of the rate of hike in D.A.

The perpetual delay in hearing the case on dearness allowance at the Supreme Court does not help the cause either. Now, a circular released by the government has banned such protests from taking place in the city.

As per a circular released to this effect,  government employees in West Bengal have been prohibited from protesting during tiffin or lunch breaks. Failure to comply with the directions of the circular means that the protesting employees will be marked absent.

Critics call the move unconstitutional as the right to gather peacefully is enshrined in the constitution. Also how far can a government circular dictate the private right of an individual during lunch breaks is subject to debate.

When it comes to the rate of DA, there exists a dichotomy between some states and the central government. While states like Rajasthan and Haryana announced a 4 per cent hike in DA earlier this year, the rate of DA allowance in a state like West Bengal stands at 36 per cent of basic pay while DA for central government employees at 42 percent of basic salary. 

It is pertinent to note that the seventh pay commission recommends a hike in DA twice a year to adjust the cost of living and to protect their basic pay from erosion in the real value on account of inflation.