1 day ago
Punjab High Court Questions Chief Secretary Over DA Arrears
Punjab government employees and pensioners are waiting for overdue Dearness Allowance payments.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the government to act and report back by August 31.
The Chief Secretary came to court to explain why the report was not filed.
The government said it had asked the Supreme Court for relief.
But the High Court said the Supreme Court filing had problems, including an unsigned legal authorization.
The court asked the Chief Secretary to explain why he should not face criminal contempt proceedings.
Employees had asked the court to act because they say the orders were not followed.
The next hearing is set for October 9.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court questioned the Punjab government over non-compliance with directions on DA arrears for employees and pensioners.
The Chief Secretary appeared personally and was asked why the government missed the August 31 compliance-report deadline.
The government said it had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, but the High Court noted defects, including an unsigned vakalatnama.
The court issued the Chief Secretary a show-cause notice asking why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated.
The case is scheduled for another hearing on October 9; employees had sought action over alleged non-compliance with August 3 directions.
- Who
- The Punjab government and its Chief Secretary; state government employees and pensioners are awaiting DA arrears.
- What
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued the Chief Secretary a show-cause notice over alleged non-compliance with directions on DA arrears.
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court; the government said it had also approached the Supreme Court.
- When
- The hearing took place on Tuesday; the compliance report was due August 31, and the next hearing is October 9.
- Why
- Employees sought action, arguing that the government had not paid the pending arrears within the court-ordered timeframe or submitted the required compliance report.
Employees' and court's concerns
Government's stated position
Compliance with DA directions
Employees' and court's concerns
Employees' counsel argued that the arrears had not been released within the stipulated timeframe and that the required compliance report was not filed.
Government's stated position
The government said it had approached the Supreme Court by filing a Special Leave Petition seeking relief.
Purpose of the Supreme Court filing
Employees' and court's concerns
The High Court questioned whether the defective filing was an attempt to delay compliance and issued a show-cause notice over possible criminal contempt.
Government's stated position
The government presented its Supreme Court petition as a request for relief; the article does not report a further explanation for the defects.
Key facts
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Government official
- Punjab Chief Secretary
- Issue
- Long-pending Dearness Allowance arrears for state employees and pensioners
- Compliance-report deadline
- August 31
- Earlier directions
- Issued August 3
- Supreme Court filing
- The High Court noted defects in the Special Leave Petition, including an unsigned vakalatnama.
- Next hearing
- October 9
Quotes
Bikram Singh Majithia
Shiromani Akali Dal leader
“The Bhagwant Mann government has stooped to such questionable tactics to avoid paying DA to its employees!”
NDTV
Sources
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