CHANDIGARH, SEPT 10: The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Punjab Government to promptly pursue its challenge before the Supreme Court regarding the payment of pending Dearness Allowance to state employees and pensioners. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor made it clear that while the state retains the right to appeal, it cannot keep high court orders unexecuted while its Special Leave Petition remains stuck in registry defects. The court observed that procedural delays must not be used as a means to stall compliance.
The direction came during the hearing of applications alleging non-compliance with the August 3 judgment, which mandated Punjab and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to release up-to-date DA and Dearness Relief instalments matching Central Government rates. Responding to the state counsel’s submission that procedural defects in the appeal were being cured, the Bench adjourned the matter by a week. The court instructed the state to either secure a hearing before the apex court by next week or submit a formal compliance affidavit, affirming that legal remedies must be pursued without unnecessary delay.
