Chandigarh, May 22 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday deferred the hearing on the plea from the Punjab government challenging a single-judge's order directing the state to pay pending dearness allowance (DA) to employees and pensioners by June 30 on a par with rates paid to All-India Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) officers on central government pattern.

The government has been pressing for a stay on the April 8 order as the June 30 deadline by a single judge nears. However, the government has not been successful so far. Lawyers associated with the case said the court on Thursday has orally asked the government to come up with a "plan" on DA release by Monday and that court would see if the demand is to be considered.

The governmen...