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High Court Gives Punjab 10 Days to Pursue DA Challenge
The Punjab government owes some government employees pending Dearness Allowance payments.
A High Court had earlier ordered action on those arrears.
Punjab disagreed with that order and filed a case in the Supreme Court.
However, the Supreme Court filing had technical problems that had not been fixed.
The High Court said Punjab is allowed to challenge its order.
But it said the government must actively pursue that challenge instead of delaying it.
Punjab was given 10 days to correct the filing.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 21, 2026.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court criticized Punjab for not complying with its August 3 order on pending Dearness Allowance arrears.
Punjab told the court it had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against that order.
The petition, filed on September 1, reportedly remained pending because court objections had not been removed.
The High Court directed the State to remove the defects within 10 days and pursue its Supreme Court challenge.
The case was adjourned until September 21, 2026, when the court may address alleged non-compliance.
- Who
- The Punjab government, government employees seeking DA arrears, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench led by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor.
- What
- The High Court directed Punjab to remove defects in its Supreme Court challenge within 10 days while addressing alleged non-compliance with an August 3 order.
- Where
- The proceedings are before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with Punjab’s challenge filed before the Supreme Court.
- When
- The SLP was filed on September 1; the High Court granted 10 days and adjourned the matter to September 21, 2026.
- Why
- The court said Punjab had not complied with its order on pending DA arrears and had not pursued its Supreme Court challenge after filing it with defects.
Punjab Government
Petitioners and Applicants
Challenge to the High Court order
Punjab Government
Punjab said it had exercised its right to challenge the August 3 order through a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court.
Petitioners and Applicants
The petitioners argued that filing the SLP was not enough and that the State needed to pursue it and report its compliance to the High Court.
Compliance with the DA order
Punjab Government
Punjab raised concerns about possible multiplicity of litigation because contempt proceedings had already been initiated before another High Court Bench.
Petitioners and Applicants
The applicants said any compliance by the State had to be placed before the court through an affidavit, rather than merely stating that an appeal had been filed.
Key facts
- Issue
- Pending Dearness Allowance arrears for Punjab government employees
- Earlier order
- The High Court’s August 3 order required action on clearing the DA arrears
- Supreme Court filing
- Punjab filed a Special Leave Petition on September 1
- Filing status
- The SLP reportedly remained in defects because objections had not been removed
- Deadline
- The High Court gave Punjab 10 days to remove the objections
- Next hearing
- September 21, 2026
Quotes
Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor
“Whatever compliance they have to do has to come on affidavit…. That we have filed the SLP and that it is likely to be listed, they have to state in affidavit”
indianexpress.com
“Please do that. Whatever remedy is available to you, please exhaust it”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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