The Punjab government filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order dated August 3 that directed the state to clear approximately ₹14,191 crore in pending dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) dues within 14 days. ^[1] The state government argued that the High Court's direction to withdraw the funds from the Consolidated Fund within the allotted fortnight is constitutionally impossible because it bypasses the procedure laid down in Articles 202 to 206 of the Constitution. ^[2] The High Court had also ordered the state to pay 6% simple interest in case of default and restrained it from incurring unproductive expenditure until the dues were cleared. ^[3] The Punjab government asked the Supreme Court to set aside the August 3 judgment and restore its discretion to determine the rate of DA and decide the manner and timeline for clearing the arrears. ^[4] The High Court had ordered the state to pay 6 per cent simple interest if it failed to comply with the 14-day deadline and restrained it from undertaking 'unproductive' expenditure until the outstanding dues were settled. ^[5] The Punjab government argued that releasing arrears of ₹14,191 crore within a fortnight is constitutionally impossible, citing Article 266(3) and Articles 202 to 206 regarding the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund. ^[6]