To
The Hon’ble Finance Minister of India
Government of India
New Delhi.
Respected Madam,
I, Lokanath Mishra, Chief Adviser, All India Pensioners Association of CBIC, most respectfully submit this representation for your kind consideration regarding the release of Dearness Relief (DR) that was frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
This representation is being made in light of the recent judgment delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal Nos. arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 22628–22630 of 2022, titled State of West Bengal & Anr. versus Confederation of State Government Employees, West Bengal & Ors., along with connected contempt petitions. The judgment has reaffirmed the legal and constitutional position that Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) are not ex gratia payments but form an integral component of salary and pension, intended to offset the impact of inflation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Government had frozen three installments of DA/DR (January 2020, July 2020, and January 2021) citing extraordinary fiscal constraints. While the decision may have been necessitated by the unprecedented situation at the time, the continued denial of these legitimate dues has caused considerable hardship to pensioners, particularly senior citizens who rely heavily on pension as their primary source of livelihood.
In view of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s observations and the settled legal position that DA/DR is a rightful entitlement, we humbly request the following:
1. Immediate release of the frozen Dearness Relief installments for the period January 2020 to June 2021 to all Central Government pensioners.
2. Payment of arrears arising from the withheld DR in a time-bound and phased manner, if necessary.
3. Issuance of appropriate orders by the Department of Expenditure and DoPT to ensure uniform implementation across all Ministries and Departments.
We submit that pensioners, who have served the nation with dedication, deserve equitable and just treatment, especially in their advanced years. The financial burden on the Government, while significant, must be balanced against the principles of fairness, legality, and social justice.
We, therefore, earnestly request your kind intervention to address this long-pending grievance and to ensure that justice is extended to lakhs of pensioners across the country.
We shall be grateful for your sympathetic and expeditious consideration of this matter.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
(Lokanath Mishra)
Chief Adviser
All India Pensioners Association of CBIC
Mobile: 9437314941.
Date: 17.3.26
Copy to:
• Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance
• Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
• Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT)