New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a fresh plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana high court's decision to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Punjab's chief secretary in a case related to payment of pending dearness allowance and dearness relief dues to employees.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of submissions of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the additional chief secretary of the Punjab government, that the chief secretary is made to attend to the high court on an almost regular basis.

Singh said that the present state government has received around Rs.13,000 crore legacy arrears from the previous dispens...