The Supreme Court has stayed criminal contempt proceedings initiated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court against Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and other officials over the alleged non-compliance with directions to release pending Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) arrears to government employees and pensioners.
A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan passed the interim order, while hearing the State government's challenge to the High Court's contempt proceedings.
Background
The dispute originated from an August 3, 2026, judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the Punjab Government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to release outstanding DA and DR instalments at the rates applicable to All India Services officers serving in Punjab.
The High Court had also directed the Chief Secretary to submit a compliance affidavit. Subsequently, contempt proceedings were initiated after allegations that the State had failed to implement the directions. On October 12, the High Court issued criminal contempt notices to the Chief Secretary and other officials.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court examined the background of the dispute and the subsequent orders requiring the Chief Secretary's personal appearance before the High Court.
Recording its reasons for granting interim relief, the bench observed:
"We have perused the impugned orders. In the subsequent order we note that CS Punjab has been directed to be present in person today in the high court in criminal contempt initiated by the respondents herein. We have also been apprised on the background of the dispute between the parties leading to filing of criminal contempt proceedings."
The bench further indicated that the State should come forward with a concrete proposal for clearing the outstanding dues.
"You got a breather. Come up with a positive response. How much will you release," the Court remarked during the hearing.
The Supreme Court stayed further proceedings in the criminal contempt matter before the High Court until further orders. It also directed that no coercive steps be taken in the connected civil contempt proceedings.
The bench asked the Punjab Government to submit a plan for disbursing the pending amounts by March 2027. The Court was informed that the current DA rate had been increased to 53%.
The matter was adjourned to December for further consideration.
Case Details
Case Title: Additional Chief Secretary v. Manjeet Singh Randhawa
Case Number: SLP(C) No. 38661/2026 and connected cases
Judges: Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan
Decision Date: November 5, 2026
