1 week ago
Punjab DA Ruling Sparks Dispute Over Court Procedure
Punjab government employees and pensioners were waiting for unpaid Dearness Allowance, or DA.
A court said the government and a power company must pay the money at rates matching the Central Government pattern.
The court gave them 15 days because an earlier deadline had already passed while the case was being appealed.
Saurav Das claimed the judge handled the case unfairly and helped political opponents of the Punjab government.
The article says there is no evidence that the judge broke court rules about assigning cases.
It also says the money involved was probably about Rs 14,000-15,000 crore for DA, not Rs 20,000 crore.
On 6 August, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the judge to become Chief Justice, but the appointment was not yet formally completed.
The dispute is therefore about both unpaid employee benefits and allegations of political bias in the court process.
On 3 August 2026, a Punjab and Haryana High Court division bench upheld directions requiring Punjab and PSPCL to pay pending DA and DR arrears at Central-pattern rates.
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das alleged that Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra improperly took over the case, violated the roster and imposed a politically motivated liability on the AAP government.
The article disputes those allegations, saying there is no public evidence of roster violations and that the Acting Chief Justice can assign and head benches as master of the roster.
The court changed the payment deadline to 15 days because the original 30 June deadline had expired during the appeals, rather than shortening a valid 30-day period.
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Mishra as permanent Chief Justice on 6 August, but he remained Acting Chief Justice as of 21 August pending formal appointment.
- Who
- Punjab government employees and pensioners, the Punjab government, PSPCL, Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, and CJP co-convenor Saurav Das.
- What
- A court order on pending DA/DR payments prompted allegations of roster violations and political motivation, which the article disputes.
- Where
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court, concerning Punjab and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.
- When
- The division-bench ruling was issued on 3 August 2026; the Collegium recommendation came on 6 August, and related developments were reported through 21 August 2026.
- Why
- The court was deciding appeals over delayed DA/DR payments and the parties disputed the case’s handling, financial impact and judicial implications.
Saurav Das’s allegations
Article’s rebuttal
Case assignment and roster
Saurav Das’s allegations
Das alleged that Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra withdrew the PSPCL DA case from another independent bench and heard it in violation of the roster.
Article’s rebuttal
The article says no contemporaneous reports or court records support the allegation and notes that an Acting Chief Justice is generally the master of the roster and may head such benches.
Financial liability
Saurav Das’s allegations
Das described the ruling as creating a Rs 20,000 crore liability for the AAP-led Punjab government.
Article’s rebuttal
The article says the division-bench order concerned DA/DR arrears, estimated at roughly Rs 14,000-15,000 crore, while the higher Rs 18,000-21,000 crore figure refers to broader employee-related dues.
Payment deadline and political motive
Saurav Das’s allegations
Das said the court reduced the payment period from 30 days to 15 days and suggested the ruling could serve political interests ahead of elections.
Article’s rebuttal
The article says the 15-day period was used because the original 30 June deadline had already expired, and characterizes the ruling as enforcement of Punjab’s existing DA commitments rather than creation of a new liability.
Key facts
- Court ruling date
- 3 August 2026
- Original payment deadline
- 30 June 2026
- Revised payment period
- Within a fortnight, or 15 days, because the original deadline had passed during the appeals
- Estimated DA/DR liability
- Approximately Rs 14,000-15,000 crore, according to figures cited in the article
- Broader employee-related dues
- Estimated at Rs 18,000-21,000 crore
- Interest on default
- The division bench ordered 6% simple interest if payment was delayed
- Appointment status
- The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Ashwani Kumar Mishra as Chief Justice on 6 August; he remained Acting Chief Justice as of 21 August
Quotes
Saurav Das
Co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party who criticized the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s handling of the DA case
“Days later, on 6 August, the ACJ gets promoted as the Chief Justice of the same High Court. Is this a coincidence?”
opindia.com
Sources
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