States » NorthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 3:01PM


Punjab and Haryana HC issues contempt notice to Punjab chief secretary over DA arrears case

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Oct 6 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a contempt-of-court notice to Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha in a case concerning pending dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) dues of state government employees and pensioners, after taking a serious view of what it said was incorrect information placed before the court.
The court directed Sinha to appear personally on October 9 and file an affidavit explaining why criminal proceedings should not be initiated against him over the filing of allegedly incorrect affidavits, according to advocate Sunny Singla, counsel for the petitioners.
Sinha was present in court during the proceedings.“The court has issued strict directions and asked the chief secretary to remain personally present on Oct. 9,” Singla said, adding that he had also been directed to explain through an affidavit why criminal action should not be initiated over the alleged filing of incorrect affidavits.
The development marks an escalation in the long-running dispute over the payment of DA and dearness relief arrears to Punjab government employees and pensioners.
At an earlier hearing on Monday, October 5, the High Court had pulled up the Punjab government over its submissions regarding a proposed appeal before the Supreme Court, observing that facts relating to the matter were being incorrectly presented.
The court said the state was entitled to challenge its order before the Supreme Court but strongly objected to what it viewed as attempts to question the judgment through public statements.
“Going to the Supreme Court is your right, but if you challenge the judgment through tweets, we will not appreciate it,” the court observed during the hearing, according to the account of the proceedings.
The bench further warned the government that its conduct was creating circumstances that could invite stringent action.
“Enough is enough. This hide-and-seek cannot continue any longer,” the court observed.
The dispute stems from an Aug. 3, 2026 order in which the High Court directed the Punjab government to clear pending DA and DR benefits of its employees and pensioners on terms comparable with those extended to All India Services officers, including IAS, IPS and IFS officers.
The court had also taken a stern view of government spending while employee and pensioner dues remained unpaid, directing the state to curb major expenditure, including large-scale government advertisements, until the outstanding financial benefits were cleared.
The latest contempt proceedings have now put the chief secretary personally before the court, with the Oct. 9 hearing expected to focus on the accuracy of affidavits and representations made by the Punjab government as well as its compliance with the earlier directions.
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