Neeraj BaliChandigarh, Nov. 2 -- The Punjab government has admitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that its outstanding liabilities towards employees and pensioners have mounted to Rs 32,418 crore, including Rs 22,818 crore in unpaid dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR), exposing the scale of the financial burden facing the Bhagwant Mann administration.
In a status report submitted to the High Court, Chief Secretary K A P Sinha acknowledged that the government remained legally bound to clear the arrears along with 6 per cent annual interest, as directed by the court on August 3.
"The total pending liability on account of both claims is approximately Rs 32,418 crore," Sinha said in the report.
The government estimate...