Punjab High Court takes a tough stand on pending DA dues, asks Chief Secretary for a status report on SC petition; hearing to resume tomorrow

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has maintained its tough stance against the state government regarding the payment of pending dearness allowance (DA) to Punjab government employees. Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha appeared in person during a crucial hearing in the case on Monday. The High Court has summoned a detailed status report on the current status of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Punjab government in the Supreme Court and has directed the Chief Secretary to appear in court again, setting the next hearing of the case for tomorrow.

Supreme Court objections resolved, formal report to be presented tomorrow

During his court appearance, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha informed the bench that certain procedural objections had been raised by the apex court's registry on the petition filed by the Punjab government in the Supreme Court. The Chief Secretary clarified that all those technical objections have now been resolved and the process of listing the petition is moving forward. Following this, the High Court ordered the government to place all these facts on record and file a written status report by tomorrow.

The government had gone to the Supreme Court against the 15-day ultimatum of the High Court

It is noteworthy that the High Court had earlier given the Punjab government a 15-day extension to release the pending DA of the state employees. However, instead of providing relief to the employees within the stipulated time limit, the Punjab government challenged the High Court's decision and approached the Supreme Court. Despite the petition being filed in the Supreme Court, no effective hearing or date could be fixed for it for a long time, due to which the issue of employees' pending DA remained hanging in the balance.

If there is no hearing, we will take a decision: The High Court

had expressed strong objection to the long delay in hearing the petition. During the last hearing, the court had clearly said that if the Punjab government cannot ensure a speedy hearing of the case in the Supreme Court, then the High Court itself will hear the case further and give a final decision. Due to this strict stance, the court had personally summoned the Chief Secretary. Now, in the next hearing to be held on Tuesday, it will be decided whether the government employees will get the pending DA payment immediately or will have to wait for the Supreme Court process.