A week after Kerala government told the High Court that Dearness Allowance (DA) is discretionary, university staff led by N. Mahesh filed a reply affidavit. They argue the government has not revised or paid the DA arrears, which are rightfully owed to staff across Kerala universities. The High Court has repeatedly asked the government to pay these dues. The petitioners say DA is not just a bonus but a key pay component linked to inflation, as per Kerala Pay Revision Orders. They stress that once pay revision is accepted, the state must implement it fully and cannot delay or deny DA. They say denying DA during rising inflation cuts real wages and is illegal. The government's claim that arrears are discretionary is unlawful, they argue. They add that Public Service Commission members got pay and DA hikes with retrospective benefits, which is unfair discrimination. The petitioners also note the government recently doubled prisoners’ daily wages, showing it can afford added financial expenses, but chooses priorities selectively.