India, Nov. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed criminal contempt proceedings initiated by the Punjab and Haryana high court against chief secretary KAP Sinha and others in a case related to payment of pending dearness allowance and dearness relief to employees.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the additional chief secretary challenging the high court order to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Sinha and other officials.

The bench noted that the chief secretary was directed to remain present in person in the high court in the matter on Thursday.

"Stay of further proceedings in... until further orders," the top court said.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh appe...