The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday ordered the state government to clear pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears of employees and pensioners within a fortnight. According to reports from Mint, a two-judge bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed that pending DA dues be paid to employees and pensioners within a fortnight. The court has also directed the chief secretary to ensure 'scrupulous compliance' of its directions and ordered that a compliance report be filed through affidavit before the HC's registry by 31 August. As per PTI, the court on Monday dismissed appeals by the Punjab state government and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and directed them to clear DA dues of employees and pensioners within a fortnight.
The dues to be paid are estimated at around ₹15,000 crore, according to Advocate Rashpinder Singh, counsel for PSPCL employees. As reported by Mint, in case of default of payment within the timeline, the bench has imposed simple interest of 6% per annum on the unpaid amounts from the due date. The court has directed that pending DA dues be paid to employees and pensioners at the same rates as has been paid to the members of the All India Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) serving within the state of Punjab, in accordance with the Central Government pattern.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the state government is considering legal options, including appealing to the Supreme Court, after the High Court's directive. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Cheema said the state is committed to employees and all constitutionally and legally valid dues will be paid. "Our legal team is examining the recent judgment in detail, reviewing the judicial precedents and consulting legal experts to determine the appropriate legal course, including the possibility of filing an appeal before the Supreme Court," he said. According to PTI, the minister added that Punjab offers among the highest government pay scales in the country — even compared to the Centre in several categories and has inherited a ₹14,191 crore liability in employee pay commission arrears due to the policies of the previous governments. The current AAP government has cleared more than ₹6,000 crore under a liquidation plan and is committed to paying all constitutionally and legally valid dues.
A number of employees and pensioners held a massive protest at Sector 39 in Chandigarh on Friday (7 August), warning the state government of a wider strike on 27 August, if their demands are not met. The protest was held under the banner of Sanjha Mulazam and Pensioners Front and Sanjha Mulazam Manch Punjab with over several employees' organisations taking part from several parts of the state, according to PTI. The Joint Coordination Committee (JAC) of Punjab Government Employees and Pensioners is pushing for long-pending demands including approval for 18% DA hike, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), implementation of the 4-9-14 Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme, and regularisation of contractual employees. Union leaders criticised the Punjab government and state finance minister as "distorting facts" on the issue of pay scales instead of addressing their demands.
