Former Health Minister Punjab Balbir Singh Sidhu today welcomed the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the Punjab Government to clear pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears of employees and pensioners by June, while strongly criticising the AAP-led state government for its continued neglect of employees’ rights.
Balbir Singh Sidhu said that it is unfortunate that employees, who form the backbone of the state’s administrative machinery, had to approach the courts to secure what is rightfully theirs. He stated that the High Court’s strict directions have once again exposed the failure of the Punjab Government to ensure parity and timely disbursal of DA despite rising inflation and repeated demands.
“This decision is a strong indictment of the Punjab Government’s failure. Instead of giving employees and pensioners their rightful dues, the government kept delaying payments, forcing them to knock on the doors of the court,” said Balbir Singh Sidhu.
He further added that it is even more shocking that while the Punjab Government continues to waste public money on self-promotion and misleading PR campaigns, it was simultaneously seeking more time from the court to release the legitimate dues of employees and pensioners. Sidhu said this reflects the misplaced priorities of the government, which is more focused on image-building than governance.
Balbir Singh Sidhu also pointed out that the disparity in DA rates between senior officers and lower-rung employees is unjustified and discriminatory. He said that such policies highlight a lack of sensitivity towards the financial struggles of ordinary government employees.
Balbir Singh Sidhu demanded that the Punjab Government immediately comply with the High Court’s directions in letter and spirit, release all pending arrears without further delay, and ensure that such situations do not arise in the future. He concluded by stating that the Congress party stands firmly with the employees and pensioners of Punjab and will continue to raise their voice until justice is fully delivered.