IndiaThe Punjab government has filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging a recent ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which mandated the clearance of approximately ₹14,191 crore in pending dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) dues to state employees and pensioners within 14 days. The state argues that this directive is 'constitutionally impossible' due to the lack of proper procedures for withdrawing funds from the state's Consolidated Fund. The petition highlights that the high court's decision appears to bypass constitutional protocols outlined in Articles 202 to 206. Additionally, Punjab disputes the use of DA rates applicable to central government employees as a benchmark for its own employees, asserting that its current DA rate of 42% already leads to higher overall monthly earnings in several categories compared to central government employees.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal arguments made by the Punjab government without overtly favoring either side. It outlines both the state's position regarding constitutional constraints and the high court's directives, providing a balanced view of the situation without apparent bias toward one party.
