Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has welcomed the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court upholding the right of employees and pensioners to receive Dearness Allowance (DA). He said the verdict has brought major relief to lakhs of employees and pensioners who had been waiting for their pending payments for a long time.
He stated that DA is the rightful entitlement of employees, not an act of charity. The Bhagwant Mann government should immediately release the pending DA dues. He added that since the Punjab government has already taken loans, those funds should now be used to clear employees’ DA arrears.
He urged the government to stop repeatedly seeking stays and instead accept the court’s decision without wasting further time.
Randhawa said the High Court has clearly ruled that DA is the right of all employees and pensioners. He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government had continuously delayed the issue and attempted to deny employees their rightful dues. According to him, the court’s verdict has now made the government’s position clear.
He further said that rising inflation has made the financial condition of salaried individuals extremely difficult. Increasing expenses related to daily needs, education, healthcare, and other necessities have hit employees and pensioners the hardest. In such circumstances, the DA amount could provide significant relief to them.
Randhawa demanded that the Punjab government should not wait for the deadline set by the High Court and should immediately release the pending dues of employees and pensioners. He said the government must prioritize the interests of employees, as they are the backbone of the administrative system.
He warned that if the government does not take employees’ demands seriously, dissatisfaction may continue to grow. Employee organizations have also welcomed the High Court’s decision and reiterated their demand for early payment.
