Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Defends Govt on DA Salary Dues

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema responded to questions about overdue payments to district‑administrative (DA) employees following a Punjab High Court order. He explained that the Pay Commission's recommendations were released in 2016, but the previous Congress government took five years to act.

Cheema said the current AAP administration filed a repayment plan in court, which was accepted by the judges. Over the past three years, the state has disbursed roughly ₹6,000 crore to clear arrears, marking the third consecutive year of payments.

He highlighted the milestone as evidence of the government's fiscal responsibility and commitment to employee welfare.