'Shameless act': SC raps Punjab govt in pensionary benefits case

The court has warned state chief secretary KAP Sinha that failure to address the issue will result in contempt actions against those responsible

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Punjab government for what it termed the "most shameless" act of arguing that a statement made by the state's law officer regarding pensionary benefits for employees of government-aided colleges could not bind the administration because it was a statement made by "an executive."

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and N Kotiswar Singh took Punjab chief secretary KAP Sinha, who appeared virtually, to task for failing to implement previous court orders and reneging on official assurances. The court warned Sinha that if the state doesn't remedy the situation, those responsible will face contempt action.

"This is taking the court for a ride. Repeated undertakings were given to the court, and then the latest stand shamelessly states that the law officer's statement cannot bind the government because it was made by an executive. This is the most shameless act on the part of the government. Can you justify this?" the bench asked Sinha.