CHANDIGARH — In a landmark decision that provides significant financial relief to thousands of transport workers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that approximately 2,500 contractual employees of PUNBUS are entitled to salaries and allowances at par with their permanent counterparts in Punjab Roadways. The court’s order, delivered this week, emphasizes the fundamental legal doctrine of “equal pay for equal work,” addressing a long-standing grievance regarding wage disparity within the state’s public transport sector.
During the proceedings, the High Court bench observed that since contractual PUNBUS staff perform the same duties and carry the same responsibilities as regular Punjab Roadways employees, there is no justifiable ground for maintaining a lower pay scale. Beyond the immediate financial adjustment, the court also urged the Punjab government to seriously consider the regularization of these employees, a move that would provide long-term job security to the labour force that keeps the state’s buses running on a daily basis.
While the current judicial relief applies directly to the employees who filed the petitions, the court has outlined a clear path for the remaining workforce. Other contractual staff members who were not part of the initial litigation are encouraged to submit formal representations to the state government. The administration has been directed to review these requests and take appropriate action to ensure that the benefits of this ruling are extended fairly across the department, preventing further legal bottlenecks and ensuring administrative consistency.
For years, PUNBUS employees recruited on a contract basis have struggled with significantly lower compensation despite working alongside permanent staff. This ruling is expected to place a substantial but necessary fiscal demand on the state treasury while significantly boosting the morale of the transport unions. Legal experts suggest this verdict could set a vital precedent for other government departments in Punjab where contractual staffing remains a dominant yet heavily contested employment model.
