The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to the state government regarding a petition that demands dearness allowance (DA) for state employees at a rate equivalent to that of their central government counterparts. The bench, led by Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, has directed the state government to submit its response within four weeks.
Petition Highlights DA Disparity
The petitioner argued that state employees currently receive DA at 45%, whereas central government employees are paid 60%. This 15% gap results in a monthly loss of nearly Rs 10,000 for state workers. The plea seeks directions to the state government to grant DA at par with the Centre. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on June 4.
Essential Component of Salary
In the plea, employees contended that DA is an essential component of salary designed to offset the impact of inflation. They alleged that the state government has failed to revise DA in line with the Centre, leading to financial disparity. The petition also notes that Himachal Pradesh does not have its own pay commission and typically follows the pattern set by Punjab.
Demand for Pending Instalments
Employees have demanded the immediate release of pending DA instalments from July 1, 2024. In a similar case, the court has scheduled a hearing for May 28. The outcome of this petition could have significant implications for state employees across Himachal Pradesh.
