Cong welcomes HC order on DA payment to govt staff

Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress on Monday welcomed the Punjab and Haryana high court order rejecting state govt's plea against payment of dearness allowance (DA) to employees and pensioners by June 30.Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said DA was the rightful entitlement of employees and pensioners and questioned why the AAP govt was resisting its release. He alleged that Punjab govt had borrowed Rs 5,300 crore in the past one-and-a-half months and spent heavily on "publicity and propaganda". "If it can borrow money for publicity, why can't it borrow money to pay employees and pensioners their dues?" Warring said.He said the Congress would release pending DA arrears on priority if voted to power in the next assembly elections. Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also welcomed the court order and congratulated employees for "standing up for their rights". He alleged that state govt had forced employees to repeatedly approach courts for their dues.Bajwa said the HC observations had exposed the "anti-employee face" of the state govt and thanked the court for protecting employees' rights.Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa termed the verdict a major relief for lakhs of employees and pensioners awaiting pending DA payments. He said DA was an entitlement, not charity, and urged the govt to release the arrears immediately.Employee organisations also welcomed the HC decision and reiterated their demand for early payment of dues. MSID:: 131227608 413 |