Punjab Govt employees stage statewide pen-down strike over pending DA arrears, other demands
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 8, 2026: Government offices across Punjab witnessed disruption on Tuesday as ministerial employees observed a statewide pen-down strike and mass casual leave, pressing the state government to clear pending Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) arrears, implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and withdraw its communication terming their earlier mass leave as “unauthorised”.
The protest was organised under the banner of the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch, with employees boycotting official work and shutting down computers at government offices across the state. Ministerial staff at various departments, directorates and district-level offices participated in the agitation.
In Chandigarh, employees gathered at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Mini Secretariat and various directorates, while similar protests were held at government offices in districts across Punjab. Protesters wore badges expressing their opposition to the government and raised slogans over their long-pending demands.
Essential services, however, remained operational. Government buses continued to ply, while schools and healthcare institutions remained open, although ministerial staff working in these institutions participated in the pen-down strike.
Employees Seek ₹14,191 Crore DA/DR Arrears
One of the principal demands of the employees is the release of approximately ₹14,191 crore in pending DA and DR arrears, which they say have accumulated over several years.
The agitation comes days after the state government announced a hike in DA in line with the 60% DA rate applicable under the Central Government, but employee unions have maintained that the hike does not resolve the issue of accumulated arrears.
The employees are also seeking implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and withdrawal of the government communication describing the August 27 mass casual leave as unauthorised. They have further demanded that employees who participated in the August 27 protest should not be issued show-cause notices.
Government Calls Strike Illegal
The latest agitation comes despite a warning from Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora, who on Monday described the proposed strike as illegal and cautioned employees against causing inconvenience to the public.
The government has maintained that the DA dispute is pending before the Supreme Court, after the state challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order concerning payment of arrears.
The state government has argued that releasing the entire amount within the stipulated period would have major financial implications and would require expenditure from the Consolidated Fund in accordance with constitutional and legislative requirements.
Employee leaders, however, have maintained that their agitation is peaceful and that protesting their financial and service-related demands is their constitutional right.
Talks Between Government and Employees
As the protest continued on Tuesday, representatives of the employees' unions were called for a meeting with K.K. Yadav, Principal Secretary, General Administration.
Union representatives said that during the meeting they were asked to withdraw the agitation, but the government had not agreed to revoke the communication declaring the August 27 mass leave unauthorised.
The employees have also raised objections to the transfer of their leader Sushil Kumar Fauji from the Secretariat to an office in Mohali, demanding that the order be withdrawn.
Another round of discussions between the government and employee representatives is expected.
Employees Announce Further Agitation
The Sanjha Mulazam Manch has indicated that the agitation could intensify if its demands are not addressed. The employees have announced plans for a mock Punjab Vidhan Sabha session on September 30, followed by proposed protests outside ministers' residences in October.
During Tuesday's protest, some employees also observed a one-day hunger strike in support of Mohanjit Singh, whose alleged detention and custodial assault have become another point of contention between employee groups and the state government.
The employee unions have reiterated that they want the government to resolve their pending demands through dialogue rather than disciplinary action.