Chandigarh, Sept. 8 -- The Punjab government secretarial staff will proceed on a one-day mass casual leave on Tuesday as part of the agitation over pending dearness allowance arrears even as minister Aman Arora termed the strike illegal, saying the matter was sub-judice. According to Secretariat Employees Union general secretary Sahil Sharma, employees across the civil and mini-secretariats in Chandigarh, district deputy commissioner offices, tehsil complexes, and departmental directorates will abstain from duty. The standoff began on August 27 when the government staff observed 'maha hartal'. While union representatives were called to Jalandhar to meet chief minister Bhagwant Mann, the meeting did not materialise. Following this, a three-member cabinet sub-committee comprising finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, industries and commerce minister Aman Arora, and social security minister Baljit Kaur convened talks with employee representatives. The state subsequently announced a DA hike to 60% for around 85,000 employees recruited after July 17, 2020, matching central government pay scales. However, employee unions remain steadfast, demanding the full clearance of long-pending DA arrears as directed by the Punjab and Haryana high court. Reacting firmly, minister Arora declared the mass leave illegal, warning that the government would act under the law if public services suffer. "Our employees are the backbone of good governance, but going on an illegal strike when the matter is sub-judice cannot be the way forward," Arora stated, appealing to staff not to become "political tools." He added that while the government is open to dialogue, it carries an equal duty toward Punjab's three crore citizens to prevent disruptions to essential services. The minister added that any inconvenience caused to the public would compel the government to take requisite action according to the law. Arora also underscored the state's fiscal constraints, noting that Punjab spends approximately 51% of its revenue receipts on salaries and pensions (far above the national average of 38%) with committed liabilities consuming roughly 82% of revenues. Meanwhile, the government transferred Sushil Kumar Fauji, president of secretariat employees' union president, out of the main secretariat in Chandigarh to the office of subordinate staff selection board in Mohali....