1 week ago
Contempt Plea Challenges Punjab Delay in DA Arrears
Punjab government employees and pensioners are waiting for unpaid Dearness Allowance money.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the government to pay all pending instalments within two weeks.
Some employees say the government did not follow that order.
They also say a Finance Department letter made it harder for officials to release the money.
Because of this, they asked the court to start contempt proceedings against senior officials.
The court had said delayed payments should receive six per cent yearly interest.
The Punjab government asked for more time to explain what it has done.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 27, 2026.
Nirmal Singh Dhanoa and other current and retired employees filed a contempt petition against four Punjab officials over unpaid DA arrears.
The petition alleges that Punjab failed to comply with the High Court’s August 3 order to release pending DA/DR instalments within a fortnight.
The petitioners say an August 17 Finance Department letter restricted implementation by requiring prior approval or generalized directions.
The High Court ordered payments at rates matching those paid to All India Services members in Punjab and imposed six per cent annual interest for delays.
The case was adjourned to September 27, 2026, after the government sought time to submit a status or compliance report.
- Who
- Nirmal Singh Dhanoa and other current and retired Punjab employees filed the petition against senior Punjab government and PSPCL officials.
- What
- A contempt petition alleges non-compliance with an order to release pending Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief instalments.
- Where
- Before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- When
- The petition was filed on August 17; the High Court’s order was issued on August 3, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 27, 2026.
- Why
- The petitioners allege that the ordered payments were not released within the court’s fortnight deadline and that subsequent instructions restricted implementation.
Petitioners’ Position
Punjab Government’s Position
Compliance with the DA order
Petitioners’ Position
The petitioners allege that the government knowingly and deliberately failed to release the pending DA/DR instalments within the court-ordered fortnight.
Punjab Government’s Position
The government counsel sought a short accommodation to file a status or compliance report; the articles do not state the government’s substantive explanation.
Effect of the August 17 instruction
Petitioners’ Position
The petitioners say the Finance Department letter restricted secretaries from implementing the High Court’s order without prior approval or generalized directions.
Punjab Government’s Position
The government has not publicly stated in the reports whether the instruction was intended to restrict or facilitate implementation.
Contempt proceedings
Petitioners’ Position
The petitioners seek action under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, against the named officials.
Punjab Government’s Position
The court has not yet ruled on contempt; it adjourned the matter to allow the government to submit its report.
Key facts
- Petitioners
- Nirmal Singh Dhanoa and other retired and serving Punjab employees
- Respondents
- Punjab Chief Secretary Kumar Anugreh Prasad Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Alok Shekhar, PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Basant Garg, and Under Secretary (Finance) Saroj
- Court order
- Pending DA/DR instalments were ordered to be released within a fortnight at rates matching those paid to All India Services members serving in Punjab.
- Interest on delay
- Unpaid amounts were ordered to carry simple interest at six per cent annually after the deadline expired.
- Alleged restriction
- A Finance Department letter dated August 17 reportedly required prior Finance Department concurrence or generalized directions before implementation.
- Next hearing
- September 27, 2026
- Compliance report
- The Chief Secretary was directed to file an affidavit-based compliance report by August 31, 2026.
Quotes
Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench
The High Court bench that issued the August 3 direction on DA and DR payments.
“grant and release all up-to-date pending installments of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief (DA/DR) to all its employees and pensioners, respectively, 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, within a fortnight”
indianexpress.com
“no such orders may be implemented without prior concurrence of the FD or unless generalized directions are issued”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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