The Punjab government is grappling with a ₹15,000 crore burden after the Punjab and Haryana High Court mandated that it clear pending dearness allowance (DA) payments for employees and pensioners by June 30. Following a recent loan of ₹1,500 crore and delays in salary disbursement, officials have indicated that the state lacks the necessary resources to fulfill this obligation. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema noted that the pending dues would significantly impact the state's budget, which already allocates over 50% of its tax revenue to salaries for approximately 300,000 employees. The government has released five DA installments, but payments have been delayed since July 1, 2023. The administration is under pressure to maintain financial assistance programs, including monthly payments for women, which could be jeopardized if the DA payments are prioritized. The next court hearing is scheduled for July 2.