Overview
- Employee groups under the Sangrami Joutha Mancha staged a statewide cease-work on March 13 to press for pending DA arrears and enforcement of the court order.
- The state Finance Department made attendance compulsory for the day, warned of 'dies non' and salary cuts for unauthorised absence, and listed limited exemptions.
- Official sources and pro-government unions reported 90–100% attendance across most offices, while organisers claimed strong participation and highlighted disruptions in schools and courts.
- A scuffle was reported at Khadya Bhavan in Kolkata with conflicting accounts over whether protesters blocked entry, as demonstrations were also held in several districts.
- The Supreme Court on February 5 affirmed DA as a legal right and set a phased plan with a March 31 first instalment, while the state cites verification of over 3.17 lakh records and unions allege the government has sought more time, reportedly until December, drawing support from CPI-M and BJP leaders.