The Supreme Court has directed the West Bengal government to pay pending dearness allowance to its employees for the period 2008–2019, calling DA a legally enforceable right. The State has been ordered to release 25% of the arrears by March 6, with further payments to be monitored by a court-appointed committee.
The Calcutta High Court has directed the Election Commission and the West Bengal government to file reports on a PIL alleging withdrawal of election-related infrastructure work. The Court said the EC has the authority to ensure proper facilities for the smooth conduct of the upcoming Bengal Assembly elections.
The Calcutta High Court quashed all proceedings against a minor accused of rash driving after holding that the Juvenile Justice Board failed to complete the inquiry within the mandatory time limit under the JJ Act. The Court ruled that the unexplained delay violated statutory safeguards meant to protect juveniles from prolonged legal trauma.
The Supreme Court set aside the Calcutta High Court’s demolition order and allowed a housing project near Visva-Bharati University, holding that “khoai” is not a recognised land category under West Bengal law. The Court ruled that in the absence of fraud or major illegality, demolition is a harsh measure and imposed a Rs 1 lakh cost on PIL petitioners.
The Calcutta High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the hazardous air pollution crisis in the Kolkata–Howrah region after AQI levels touched 330–350. The Court has sought responses from the West Bengal government and concerned authorities, calling the situation a continuing public health emergency.