Forget 7th pay commission, these government employees got double salary, but there is a catch in this Diwali 'gift'!

7th pay commission: Even as central government employees agonise over whether they will get a salary hike or not as per their demands, here is a state where the staff was surprised pleasantly and then rudely shocked regarding a Diwali gift salary hike. This sorry tale will make you leave your worries. Lakhs of Punjab government employees have been paid 'double salary' for the month of October. Yes, you read it right. Even the employees were ecstatic after they found they were paid a "double salary" and thought that it was a surprise Diwali gift from the Punjab government.

However, their happiness was short-lived as District treasury officer A K Maini was quick to send notices across the departments stating that the two salaries were paid due to a glitch in the software and shortly one salary would be taken back.

It also asked the employees not to withdraw the additional money paid to them.

The incident might have sent jitters to the senior finance department officials as around Rs 40 to 50 crore excess payment was made in Amritsar district alone.  The excess payment may well multiply manyfold as there are over 30 lakh government employees in the state.

Maini has also confirmed that a majority of the government employees were paid the double salary due to the technical snag.

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While the joy of Punjab employees was shortlived, those in Uttar Pradesh have recently received a true Diwali gift. The Yogi Adityanath government has not only announced the DA hike and a bonus for the state employees but also for the contractual staff of the UP Roadways.