New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the West Bengal government to clear 25 percent of the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees within four weeks, media reports said.

The order, which is considered a jolt to the Mamata Banerjee government in the state, has been passed by a bench comprising Justices Sanjoy Karol and Manoj Mishra.

The next hearing will be held in August.

A section of state government employees had filed a case in the Calcutta High Court seeking DA at par with the central government employees and clearance of the pending dues.

The Calcutta HC had in 2022 ordered the State to give 31 percent DA at par with the Centre's rate.

This was followed by the West Bengal government moving the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.

DA is a cost-of-living adjustment that the government provides to its employees and pensioners to help them cope with inflation.

It is calculated as a percentage of the basic salary and is revised periodically, usually twice a year, based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)