Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The dispute over Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees in Punjab intensified on Thursday, with ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora and Baljit Kaur addressing a press conference to present the government’s position on the issue.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema claimed that Punjab government employees are among the highest-paid employees in the country. He said their take-home salary is among the highest and that, when basic pay and DA are taken together, employees in Punjab receive higher salaries than their counterparts in several states.
Cheema said the salaries of clerks, drivers, stenographers, teachers and police personnel in Punjab are higher than those of corresponding employees of the Central Government. He also claimed that Punjab employees earn around 28% more than government employees in Gujarat.
DA Increased From 28% to 42%
Responding to criticism over the DA issue, Cheema said employees were receiving 28% DA when the present government came to power. According to him, the DA was subsequently increased to 34% in October, 38% in December 2023 and 42% in November 2024.
He accused opposition parties of spreading misleading information regarding the DA issue and said the government had been taking steps to clear pending arrears.
₹14,191 Crore Arrears From 2016-2021
Cheema said around ₹14,191 crore in arrears pertains to the period between 2016 and 2021, when the state was governed by previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments.
He said the present government has been clearing these old dues and has already paid around ₹4,500 crore to employees and pensioners. He added that the government had also submitted a liquidation plan before the High Court, which was accepted.
Cheema said the previous government had announced implementation of DA in 2021 along with payment of arrears, but the dues remained unpaid even when the Congress government demitted office.
Punjab Spends 51% of Revenue on Employees, Pensioners
Cheema further claimed that Punjab spends around 51% of its total revenue on employees and pensioners, which he said is the highest proportion among states. The average in other states, according to him, is around 38%.
He maintained that when basic pay and DA are combined, salaries of Punjab employees are higher than those in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Government Defends DA Rules
Minister Baljit Kaur said salaries, pensions and DA of Punjab employees are determined under the Punjab Civil Services Revised Pay Rules, 2021, framed under Article 309 of the Constitution.
She said the rules do not contain any provision for a fixed DA, automatic linkage to the Central Government’s index, an automatic formula or mandatory adoption of Central Government rules.
According to Kaur, the Punjab Government has the authority to decide the quantum and timing of DA payments, as every state has the right to frame its own rules and exercise its administrative powers.
Employees’ Fresh Plea in High Court
Meanwhile, after the Punjab Government challenged the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court, employees have filed another petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing on thursday.
Cheema said the government was placing the facts before the public because, according to him, Congress and BJP leaders were presenting incorrect information about the DA issue. He also questioned claims that the government’s position violated Article 14 of the Constitution.
He asked opposition leaders to explain whether similar principles would apply in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where BJP governments are in power.
Aman Arora Appeals for Dialogue
Minister Aman Arora described government employees as the “backbone” of the administration and said employees and elected representatives are two sides of the same coin.
Arora said it was unfortunate that employees were allegedly being misled over the DA issue. He appealed to employees to engage in dialogue with the government to find a solution.
He said the government also has a responsibility towards the three crore people of Punjab who are not directly connected with the government system.
Arora said Punjab employees are currently receiving 42% DA, adding that a higher DA rate at the Centre does not automatically mean the same formula has to be applied to Punjab.
He acknowledged that employees may have genuine demands but said political parties should not mislead them. Arora appealed to employees to sit with the government and resolve the matter through discussions, stressing that employees are an integral part of the government.
