In 2021, Punjab government had approved the recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission to grant DA/DR to the State employees on the Central Government pattern.
However, despite the approval, it failed to release the amounts.
Consequently, a number of petition were filed to seek release of the dues. The Court was told employees and pensioners of the State were being paid 16% less DA than All India Service Officers.
In response, Punjab government cited financial constraints. It also referred to a liquidation plan under which the payment of pension was staggered based on the age of pensioners. The same had also been adopted by the PSPCL for its pensioners.
In April, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar ruled that this plan was violative of Article 14 as it created an impermissible differentiation within a homogeneous class of pensioners.
The judge then directed the PSPCL to release the arrears of revised pension/family pension (including DR arrears) as per 6th Punjab Pay Commission to all their pensioners and family pensioners.
The State government and PSPCL challenged the judgment. Today, the appeals were dismissed.
