The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a strict position in the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears case involving Punjab government employees and pensioners. During the hearing on Tuesday, November 3, the court issued a contempt notice to Punjab’s Chief Secretary and directed him to submit a compliance affidavit within 10 days.
According to a PTI report, the court sought an explanation for the state’s failure to follow its earlier order dated August 3. The Chief Secretary was present in court during the proceedings. The court also imposed a penalty of ₹1 lakh for non-compliance.
The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for November 17.
Punjab DA Arrears Case: Key Developments
During Tuesday’s hearing, the bench considered submissions from both sides before issuing the contempt notice. The Chief Secretary has been asked to explain through an affidavit why the High Court’s August 3 directions were not implemented within the prescribed period.
The Punjab government informed the court that its Special Leave Petition (SLP) was ready for filing after the procedural defects had been corrected. The state also indicated that the matter could come up before the Supreme Court shortly after Diwali.
Meanwhile, the petitioners’ counsel raised concerns about the state’s financial position and urged the court to restrict government spending on freebies, arguing that public funds should be handled responsibly.
Senior Advocate Sunny Singla, representing the petitioners, highlighted the continued delay in implementing the court’s directions. He submitted that the government had neither released the pending DA arrears within the stipulated timeframe nor submitted the compliance report required by the court.
What Is the Dispute Over Punjab Government Employees’ DA Arrears?
The latest proceedings follow a contempt petition filed by Nirmal Singh Dhillon, a retired Chief Engineer of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
The petition concerns the alleged failure of the Punjab government to implement court directions regarding pending Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) payments for government employees and pensioners.
The matter had also come up before the High Court in October, when the bench expressed concern over the state’s continued failure to comply with its earlier orders.
During those proceedings, counsel representing the employees alleged that the government was delaying the implementation of the court’s directions. They also pointed out that the state’s Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court had remained on the defect list for more than two months.
High Court Questions Delay in DA and DR Payments
During the earlier hearing, the bench led by Justice Harsh Bunger raised questions about the government’s approach to pending employee benefits.
The court questioned why DA and DR payments for employees and pensioners had been withheld while similar benefits for senior government officials had not faced the same treatment.
The latest contempt notice and penalty indicate that the court is seeking an explanation for the continued delay in implementing its previous directions.
The state government is now required to submit its compliance affidavit within 10 days. The matter will next be heard on November 17.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reported court proceedings and information available at the time of writing. The developments reflect the submissions made by the parties and directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The final outcome will depend on further judicial proceedings and decisions of the court.