Chandigarh, May 21 (IANS) In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday refused to stay the single Bench order directing Punjab to release 58 per cent dearness allowance (DA) of government employees and pensioners on a par with senior government officers.

During the hearing, the division bench made it clear that it was not inclined to put a hold on the earlier court judgment.

However, it said that it could consider extending the June 30 deadline fixed by the single bench for releasing DA arrears, provided the state government “submits a proper schedule explaining how and by when the payments would be made”.

The High Court has asked the state government to file its reply by May 25.

Earlier, the single bench had directed the Punjab government to grant 58 per cent DA to all government employees and pensioners on the same lines as officers from the IAS, IPS, IFS and judicial services.

Challenging that decision, the state government had approached the division bench.

Responding to the High Court’s directive, Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar urged the state government to immediately release pending DA installments and arrears of employees and pensioners.

In a message on social media platform X, Jakhar said: “Your appeal seeking a stay against the court orders directing the release of employees’ arrears and DA installments by June 30 has also been dismissed. So why the delay now, Bhagwant Mann ji? You have even taken a new loan now.”

“During the West Bengal elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that employees would receive DA within 45 days of a BJP government being formed. However, the BJP did not wait 45 days and implemented the decision within 10 days of forming the government in Bengal. What are you waiting for?” he added.

Joining the issue, State Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the DA was the right of the employees and pensioners and it was shocking that the Punjab government was putting up such a forceful resistance against paying it to them.

He added that the AAP government has taken Rs 5,300 crore loan in the last one-and-a-half month.

Besides, he said, the state government has been spending lavishly on propaganda and publicity.

“If it (AAP government) can borrow money for publicity and propaganda, why can’t it borrow money for paying the employees and pensioners their dues?” Raja Warring asked.

–IANS

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