No DA hike for 8 years, TNSTC pensioners fighting a costly legal battle with state govt

ABOUT 94,000 employees of the TNSTC have been fighting an unending legal battle with the state government over lack of revision of their Dearness Allowance (DA) for the past eight years.

- M SARAVANAN @Coimbatore

The elderly pensioners have spent more than ₹70 lakh to fight the case before the Madras HC and the Supreme Court since 2018, sources said.

According to norms, the transport corporation must revise the DA for pensioners whenever the government enhances the DA for current employees. The pensioners claimed that they should be given up to 53% DA from their basic pay at present, but are getting just 5% DA since 2016. Also, employees who retired before the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission should be paid 239% DA, but it has been limited to 119%, they said.