Judge Amarjeet Singh decided this after hearing submissions by senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly@Arwi, representing the government and the director-general of public services, and lawyer Abd Shukor Ahmad representing former civil servant Aminah Ahmad.

“After considering the affidavits and submissions from both parties, I find that there are special circumstances to allow the stay. There is no order as to costs,” said Amarjeet.

The government filed the stay application against a High Court decision which allowed Aminah’s judicial review and ordered the public services department and the government to pay the pension arrears within three months of Jan 16.

Aminah had filed an affidavit on behalf of 56 former civil servants who opposed the government’s application to stay the Jan 16 court order.