DA Disparity Row in Punjab: Employees allege bias as officers receive timely benefits/ 16% dues of employees still pending
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 18, 2026: Fresh concerns have been raised over alleged discrimination in the payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to government employees in Punjab, with staff unions claiming that senior officers continue to receive timely benefits while regular employees face delays.
Employee representatives argue that despite drawing salaries from the same state treasury, a gap persists in the disbursement of DA between general employees and top officials such as IAS, IPS, IFS and judicial officers.
Before 2014, the disparity was reportedly stark, with officers receiving DA installments on time while employees often had to wait.
The issue was brought to the attention of then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who intervened by issuing an order in October 2014 to ensure that both employees and officers would receive DA under the same terms.
However, employee groups claim that the policy shifted again during the tenure of the Indian National Congress government (2017–2022). A 2019 directive reportedly allowed immediate DA payments to IAS, IPS and IFS officers without requiring separate orders, effectively fast-tracking their benefits.
The trend, they allege, has continued under the current Aam Aadmi Party government, where judicial officers have also been included among those receiving prompt DA payments.
Unions are now questioning what they describe as a “two-policy system,” asking why different standards apply when both officers and employees are paid from the same treasury. They have demanded uniform implementation of DA policies and timely release of p