Tripura govt to move SC on HC's DA verdict

Agartala, Jul 20: Tripura Government has decided to approach the Supreme court for challenging a Tripura High Court verdict on clearing 31 per cent dearness allowance for its employees.

"The council of ministers in its meeting held here yesterday decided to approach the apex court to review the July 17 judgment of the High Court as the state was facing a serious financial crunch," state Finance Minister, Bhanu Lal Saha told reporters.

On the basis of a writ petition filed by the Tripura Government Employees Federation (TGEF) the High Court on July 17 had asked the state government to clear 31 per cent DA to its employees and pensioners.

He said "Even if 20 per cent DA is released to them, the government will have to bear Rs 672 crore per annum, which is not possible for the state government, because all development work in the state would be affected."

Saha said, the state government was carrying out development works by borrowing Rs 1570 crore from different agencies. The state government, he said, had ordered its employees to maintain austerity in government work.

PTI