Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar demands AAP govt release ₹15,000 crore DA to 7 lakh employees
Synopsis
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the AAP government's appeal for a stay on DA payments — yet ₹15,000 crore owed to over 7 lakh employees and pensioners remains unreleased. With Punjab stuck at 42% DA against the Centre's 60%, BJP's Sunil Jakhar is framing the standoff as both a legal failure and a political liability for Bhagwant Mann.
Key Takeaways
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on 21 May 2025 demanded immediate release of pending DA to state employees and pensioners.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the government to release ₹15,000 crore in DA arrears by 30 June ; its stay appeal was dismissed.
Over 3 lakh employees and 4 lakh pensioners in Punjab are awaiting DA instalments and arrears.
Punjab employees receive 42% DA, compared to 60% provided by the Centre, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan.
The AAP government reportedly argued in court that it is 'not bound to increase dearness allowance' — a position Jakhar called unprecedented since Independence.
BJP cited West Bengal , where it implemented DA within 10 days of forming government, as a model for Punjab.
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar on Thursday, 21 May demanded that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab immediately release pending dearness allowance (DA) instalments and arrears to over 7 lakh state employees and pensioners, following the Punjab and Haryana High Court's refusal to grant a stay on orders directing such payments.
High Court Refuses Stay, BJP Turns Up Pressure
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government to release ₹15,000 crore in DA instalments and arrears to employees and pensioners by 30 June. The government's appeal seeking a stay against these orders was dismissed, yet it has reportedly approached the court again rather than proceeding with disbursement.
In a post on social media platform X, Jakhar directly addressed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann: 'Your appeal seeking a stay against the court orders directing the release of employees' arrears and DA instalments by June 30 has also been dismissed. So why the delay now, Bhagwant Mann-ji? You have even taken a new loan now.'
The DA Gap: Punjab at 42% vs Centre's 60%
Jakhar highlighted a stark disparity: while the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan, is providing 60 per cent dearness allowance, Punjab employees are currently receiving only 42 per cent. More than 3 lakh employees and 4 lakh pensioners in Punjab are awaiting their dues, according to Jakhar.
He also alleged that the Punjab government has gone further than merely delaying payments — in its court appeal, it reportedly argued that it is 'not bound to increase the dearness allowance', a position Jakhar described as the government challenging the very legal provision of granting DA. He called this unprecedented, saying it was 'for the first time since Independence' that a state government had taken such a stance.
BJP Points to West Bengal as a Model
Jakhar drew a pointed comparison with West Bengal, where he said the BJP government, after assuming office, implemented DA payments within 10 days — well ahead of the 45-day window Union Home Minister Amit Shah had publicly committed to during the election campaign. 'What are you waiting for?' Jakhar asked, directing the question at Mann.
He reiterated that if the BJP forms the government in Punjab, DA would be released promptly, in line with the West Bengal precedent.
Spending on Ads While Employees Wait, Says BJP
Jakhar also accused the AAP government of spending crores on advertisements while denying employees their legitimate dues. He reminded Mann that the Chief Minister himself frequently claims the state Treasury is full, and questioned why that claimed fiscal health had not translated into DA payments for government staff.
On Wednesday, Jakhar had also charged that the AAP was 'trying to divert people's attention from real issues by constantly creating new narratives,' adding that the BJP under PM Modi's leadership would not allow that. He also recalled that AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had, before the elections, promised that employees would not have to stage protests or face police action over job-related grievances — a promise Jakhar said remains unfulfilled.
What Comes Next
With the court-mandated 30 June deadline approaching and the stay appeal dismissed, the Punjab government faces mounting legal and political pressure to act. Employee unions are reportedly watching the next court date closely. Whether the AAP government complies, seeks further legal relief, or negotiates a phased release is expected to become a key flashpoint in Punjab's political landscape ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Yet the political calculus of compliance is more complex than it appears. Releasing ₹15,000 crore in a single tranche would test a state that Jakhar himself says has just taken a fresh loan — making the BJP's 'Treasury is full' taunt a double-edged sword. The more damaging detail is the government's reported court argument that it is not legally bound to raise DA at all: that position, if upheld, would set a precedent with consequences far beyond Punjab. Jakhar's West Bengal comparison is politically convenient but structurally imprecise — Bengal's fiscal position and employee cadre size differ materially from Punjab's. The real accountability question is whether any party, in or out of power, has a credible plan to close Punjab's chronic fiscal gap without deferring employee obligations indefinitely.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Punjab DA arrears issue?
The Punjab government owes over ₹15,000 crore in dearness allowance instalments and arrears to more than 3 lakh employees and 4 lakh pensioners. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state to release these dues by 30 June, but the government sought a stay, which was dismissed.
What did the Punjab and Haryana High Court rule on the DA matter?
The High Court refused to grant a stay on its earlier orders directing the Punjab government to release DA instalments and arrears by 30 June. The government's appeal against these payment orders was dismissed, increasing pressure on it to comply.
Why is Punjab's DA lower than other states?
Punjab employees currently receive 42% dearness allowance, while the Central government, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan provide 60%. The AAP government has reportedly argued in court that it is not legally bound to increase DA, a position critics have called unprecedented.
Who is affected by the pending DA in Punjab?
More than 3 lakh state government employees and 4 lakh pensioners in Punjab are directly affected by the pending dearness allowance instalments and arrears, according to BJP President Sunil Jakhar.
What has the BJP promised Punjab employees on DA?
BJP President Sunil Jakhar has assured that if the BJP forms the government in Punjab, DA will be released promptly — citing West Bengal, where the BJP implemented DA payments within 10 days of assuming office, ahead of the 45-day window publicly committed to during the election campaign.
