Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the release of salaries of officials of Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC),and also their travel and dearness allowances and fuel expenses,which the Court had stopped on account of non-payment of pension to the corporations retired employees. In a reprieve for the Managing Director,first class officers and those holding managerial positions in PRTC,Justice Surya Kant lifted the stay on payment of salaries imposed four months ago. The orders were passed after the court was informed that an amount of Rs 5 crore will be paid to over 120 employees,and an additional amount of Rs 5 crore will be paid to the employees by January-end. A statement to this effect was made by Rupinder Singh Khosla,Additional Advocate General (AAG),Punjab representing the Corporation. It might be remembered that on July 15,Justice Surya Kant had attached salaries of the MD and all first class officers. The corporation owes nearly Rs 30 crore as pensionary benefits to its 818 retired employees. In some instances,employees have been awaiting pensionary benefits for more than two-and-a-half years. On July 15,Justice Surya Kant had made it clear that no salaries would be paid to the MD and first class officers till the pensionary benefits of employees were paid. The directions were issued on a petition filed by Sukhdarshan Singh and a few other retired employees of PRTC. Arguing on behalf of the petitioners,Advocate Vikas Chatrath had submitted that the Corporation had not released the amount of gratuity,commuted value of pension and arrears of dearness allowance on their superannuation
