Dearness allowance case: High court reserves order on pleas from Punjab, PSPCL

Punjab and Haryana high court reserved order on pleas from Punjab government and PSPCL against a single-judge order directing release of Dearness Allowance (DA) to employees and pensioners by June 30.

The bench of acting chief justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and justice Rohit Kapoor heard the pleas over a dozen hearings in July.

If DA is released as ordered, the state's financial liability is estimated at ₹14,191 crore.

The single-judge order required DA payment on par with All India Services rates on the central pattern; the government argued a 2025 division bench had approved a phased plan extending to 2028.

PSPCL argued it has independent rules for employees and is aggrieved by the single-judge order.