Chandigarh, Aug. 18 -- The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday raised questions on an order issued by the Punjab finance department barring the release of pending dearness allowance (DA) without the department's permission, which the AAP government maintained was a move towards ensuring uniformity and clarity among departments. Bathinda MP and senior SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal termed the order a complete mockery of government employees' rights. This latest order from the finance department states that even court-directed relief will need the chief minister's approval before implementation, she wrote on X, adding, "Shocking how the AAP thinks itself bigger than the high court." The communication, issued on Monday, came the day the deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana high court to clear pending DA for all employees and pensioners, on par with central government employees, within a fortnight ended. Speaking about it, finance minister Harpal Cheema said the communication was issued for uniformity and clarity among all departments. "For the best use of available funds, the finance department wants all expenditure in this regard to be tracked," added Cheema. He further said the pending liability was since the tenure of the SAD-BJP government, which was Rs.14,161 crore in 2016 and had piled-up further. "There is nothing like going over the high court orders," the minister added.HTC...