Chandigarh, August 5: Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema stated on Tuesday that the state government is managing a 14,191 crore rupee liability in employee pay commission arrears originating from policies under prior administrations.
Speaking at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister explained that the pay commission report conceived in 2016 during the SAD-BJP tenure was implemented in July 2021 under the subsequent Congress administration.
This timeline resulted in frozen Dearness Allowance arrears spanning from January 1, 2016, to July 2021, creating the accumulated financial burden.
The state administration has already disbursed over 6,000 crore rupees to employees under a structured liquidation plan presented to and accepted by the High Court.
Addressing recent judicial developments regarding current DA disbursements, Minister Cheema noted that specific constitutional benchmarks were under review by the state’s legal team.
He asserted that Punjab maintains some of the highest pay structures in the country, surpassing central pay scales across several categories.
The administration maintained that legal arguments surrounding pay scale balance and DA rates are being examined, with senior experts consulting on appropriate next steps, including the option of approaching the apex court.
Cheema affirmed the state’s resolve to fulfill all valid legal and constitutional dues systematically while maintaining fiscal balance.
