Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a stern view of the Punjab government’s alleged failure to comply with its directions concerning Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) arrears payable to government employees and pensioners.
During a hearing on a contempt petition, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Punjab Chief Secretary and directed the senior official to submit a personal affidavit explaining the reasons for the alleged non-compliance with the court’s earlier orders.
The petition was filed by Nirmal Singh Dhillon, a retired Chief Engineer of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), concerning the implementation of directions related to DA and DR benefits.
Court Questions Delay in Implementing Directions
The matter came up before a bench headed by Justice Harsh Bunger. During the proceedings, counsel representing the employees and pensioners alleged that the state government was delaying the implementation of the court’s directions.
The counsel also drew the court’s attention to the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Punjab government before the Supreme Court, submitting that it had remained on the defect list for more than two months.
After considering the submissions made during the hearing, the High Court took action over the alleged failure to comply with its previous directions. It directed the Chief Secretary to explain, through a personal affidavit, why the orders had not been implemented.
Bench Raises Questions Over DA and DR Benefits
During the hearing, the court also questioned the government’s approach to withholding DA and DR benefits from employees and pensioners. According to the submissions and observations during the proceedings, the bench raised concerns over whether similar restrictions had been imposed on senior government officials.
The issue concerns benefits that have a direct financial bearing on serving employees and retired personnel. For pensioners in particular, delays in the payment of admissible arrears can affect their financial planning and household expenses.
The proceedings underline the importance of compliance with judicial directions, particularly in disputes involving service benefits and payments owed to government personnel.
Chief Secretary Asked to Appear on November 3
The High Court has directed the Punjab Chief Secretary to appear personally before it on November 3, 2026, when the matter is scheduled to be taken up again.
The Chief Secretary will be required to explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged non-compliance and the steps taken in response to the court’s directions.
The next hearing is expected to bring further clarity on the state government’s position and the status of the pending DA and DR arrears.
The case remains significant for Punjab government employees and pensioners awaiting the resolution of their claims. Further developments will depend on the explanations submitted by the state government and the court’s subsequent directions.
