Punjab-Haryana HC Orders Punjab Govt to Release Pending DA to 8 Lakh EmployeesCourt warns of 6% interest penalty if payment not made by end of this monthIn a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) to nearly 800,000 state employees and pensioners within 15 days. The government has consistently opposed the DA payment throughout the case, and it is therefore likely to challenge the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court. The government also informed the court that a new scheme had been presented under the report dated February 18, 2025. The state government further argued that Punjab provides its employees with higher pay scales compared to other states, and therefore there was no need to provide DA separately. He said that IAS, IPS, IFS and judicial officers are being given DA as per the central government, while other employees and pensioners are being deprived of it.