Face2News/Chandigarh  

Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday gave approval to summon the seventh Session of 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha on September 2-4.  A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that a decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister at his official residence. 

The session will start with obituary references on September 2 and the Business for the three days assembly session will be decided by the Business advisory committee shortly. 

GIVE IN PRINCIPLE APPROVAL TO DO AWAY WITH CLAUSE OF NOC 

The Cabinet also gave in principle approval to do away with the clause of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for registration of land and property. The matter will be brought in Cabinet meeting to be held shortly and sole aim of this decision is to facilitate the general public as the illegal colonizers dupe the people by showing them green pastures and sell their unapproved colonies to them. The hapless people have to then run pillar to post for getting the basic civic amenities in these colonies adding that the state government will safeguard the interests of the common man.

GREEN SIGNAL TO PUNJAB FIRE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES BILL, 2024 

The Cabinet also gave green signal to 'The Punjab Fire Safety and emergency Services Bill, 2024'. The Act of 2012 required upgradation as it was not able to meet with the fire safety, fire fighting and Ease of Business requirements of the present times. After coming into force of the proposed legislation a big relief shall be available to the owners and occupiers of buildings in Punjab as they will not have to obtain fire safety certificate annually but after every 3 years. 

The Cabinet also gave in principle approval to do away with the clause of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for registration of land and property. The matter will be brought in Cabinet meeting to be held shortly and sole aim of this decision is to facilitate the general public as the illegal colonizers dupe the people by showing them green pastures and sell their unapproved colonies to them. The hapless people have to then run pillar to post for getting the basic civic amenities in these colonies adding that the state government will safeguard the interests of the common man.

CONSENT TO CREATE 49 POSTS IN SEVEN GRAM NYAYALAYAS 

The Cabinet also gave approval or Creation of 49 posts for seven Gram Nyayalayas in Patran (Patiala), Tappa (Barnala), Bassi Pathana (Fatihgarh Sahib), Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), Dharkal (Pathankot), Raikot (Ludhiana) and Chamkaur Sahib (Rupnagar) . The idea behind establishment of Gram Nyayalayas is to provide easy access to justice to every citizen of the country. The establishment of more Gram Nayayalayas would, apart from providing access to justice at affordable price and providing justice at door steps, also declog the huge pendency of matters before the Trial Courts. 

REDUCES MOTOR VEHICLE TAX ON REGISTERED TOURIST VEHICLES IN PUNJAB 

The Cabinet also reduced motor vehicle tax on registered Tourist Vehicles in Punjab State. As the tax was very high compared to the taxes of registered vehicles in neighboring States, so the registration of Tourist Vehicles in Punjab State was very low but this move will reverse the trend leading to increase in revenue. The Cabinet also agreed to Levy Additional Road Tax by one more category for luxury vehicle which is likely to generate additional income of Rs. 87.03 crore. The Cabinet also approved to levy Green Tax on old Transport/ Non-Transport vehicles registered in the State to check environmental pollution. 

GIVES CONSENT TO AMEND PUNJAB PARTNERSHIP (REGISTRATION OF FIRMS) RULES 1932 

The Cabinet also gave consent to amend Punjab Partnership (Registration of Firms) Rules-1932 to implement the revised fees for services as contained in 'Schedule-l' under section 71(1) of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 in line with the amendments made in the 1932 Act under The Indian Partnership (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2021 as published in the Punjab Government Extraordinary Gazette on 12.07.2022. The amendments in the Rule 11(A) of the Punjab Partnership (Registration of Firms) Rules, 1932, will pave way for the revised fees to be implemented in the state. 

GIVES CONSENT TO YOUTH SERVICES POLICY 2024 

The Cabinet also accorded green signal to Youth Services Policy 2024 prepared by the Department of Youth Services for the welfare of the youth. The policy aims at weaning away the youth from the menace of drugs and channelizing their unbounded energy in a positive direction. The Policy will encourage youth towards social welfare activities and improve their skills besides connecting them with sports, cultural programs, and social welfare work.

APPROVES AMENDMENT IN SPORTS REGULAR CADRE SERVICE 

The Cabinet also gave approval to amend Sports Regular cadre service rules by framing "The Outstanding Sports Persons Service Rules” of the Sports Department. The decision has been taken to provide employment opportunities to outstanding sportspersons in the sports department. Likewise, the Cabinet also gave nod to Punjab Sports Medical Cadre Service Rules for providing medical assistance to the players. 

NOD TO TREE PRESERVATION POLICY FOR NON FOREST GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC LANDS-2024 

The Cabinet also gave nod to Tree Preservation Policy for Non Forest Government and Public Lands-2024. Punjab is an agrarian state, with about 83 percent of its area under agriculture but the total area under forest and tree cover of Punjab State is about 5.92 percent, so the Punjab Government has set a target to enhance it to 7.5 percent by 2030. The main objective of this policy is to provide adequate protection to the trees standing on the non-forest land/public land and to provide institutional mechanisms to compensate for the environmental loss by undertaking compensatory plantation.

As per the policy concerned departments will prepare an inventory of trees standing on their own lands and they will be documented through an online portal/mobile app for protection purposes. The policy is applicable to all non-forest lands owned by the State Government Departments, all State owned Institutions, Local bodies and Panchayats lands. The decision to cut and plant new trees will be taken by the committees formed in this regard at Sub Division /District /State level besides policy may generate some revenue for plantation and also help in preserving green cover across the State particularly in the urban areas.

GREEN SIGNAL TO LAUNCH A PROJECT FOR PROMOTING AGRO FORESTRY AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN THE STATE 

The Cabinet also gave approval to launch a project for promoting Agro forestry and Biodiversity conservation in the State at a cost of Rs 792.88 crore with Japanese collaboration. The project will help in increasing the area under tree cover through agroforestry in the state, conserve groundwater, increase income of farmers and prevent air pollution caused by straw burning, integrated Watershed Management of Shivalik Region, Promotion of Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation and Wetland Improvement in the State. The DPR of the project will be prepared by the Government of India, MoEF&CC, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Forest Department, Punjab adding that the project will be implemented for a period of five years from 2025-26.

DESIGNATES STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY TO RELEASE COMPENSATION FOR CROP LOSS IN CASE OF NATURAL CALAMITIES 

The Cabinet also gave its approval to designate State Executive Committee as the competent authority to release funds worth more than Rs.1 crore per case out of SDRF/State Budget or combined SDRF and State Budget for crop damage due to notified Natural Calamities at once to the affected. This will provide reasonable relief to the farmers for the loss of crops due to Natural Calamities. Currently the relief is given separately out of the State Budget but the move aims at ensuring no difficulty in providing timely and complete relief to the affected by combining SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) and the State Budget. 

Green signal to Punjab State Education Policy for Children with Disabilities 

The Cabinet also gave green signal to the Punjab State Education Policy for Children with Disabilities to fulfill the objective of United Nation Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and to give effect to the "The Right of Person with Disabilities Act, 2016". This will help in providing inclusive Education and holistic development, so that Children with Disabilities get better opportunities and better inclusive education and also rights to participate in the social economic and self development activities in all walks of life.

RELIEF TO GALLANTRY AWARD WINNERS

In a major reprieve to the gallantry award winners, the Cabinet gave nod approved to disburse all the compounds of cash award as lump sum payment. This will ensure lump sum payment to the award winner thereby enabling them to meet their financial needs more efficiently. Further there will be no need to continue the process of obtaining a life certificate from the awardees every year and after the death of the awardee there will be no need to apply monthly allowance (annuity) for his wife as this process will be completed automatically. 

OKAYS AMENDMENT IN PUNJAB EDUCATIONAL (TEACHING CADRE) GROUP-'C' SERVICE RULES, 2018 AND PUNJAB EDUCATIONAL (TEACHING CADRE) BORDER AREA GROUP-C' SERVICE RULES, 2018 

The Cabinet also approved to amend the Punjab Educational (Teaching Cadre) Group-'C' Service Rules, 2018 and Punjab Educational (Teaching Cadre) Border Area Group-C' Service Rules, 2018. As per this amendment 20 percent promotion quota for the post of Master/Mistress cadre has been divided among ETT/JBT, HT and CHT* cadres in the ratio of 15:4:1 respectively. This will reduce unnecessary litigation of the Department and the way of promotion will open for the ETT/JBT, HT and CHT cadre. 

Gives consent to amend Punjab Family Courts (Amendment) Rules, 2004 

The Cabinet also gave its consent to amend Punjab Family Courts (Amendment) Rules, 2004 by inserting new section 4-A and amending existing section 5, section 6, section 7, section 8 and section 9. The amendment is aimed at meeting out the needs of present time as well as better functioning of the family courts.

NOD TO AMEND PUNJAB SUPERIOR JUDICIAL SERVICES RULES, 2007 

The Cabinet also gave its nod to amend Punjab Superior Judicial Services Rules, 2007 to re-designate the judicial officer in the State of Punjab in conformity with All India Pattern. The Cabinet also approved the amendment to the PCS (Judicial Branch) Rules, 1951 to allow the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, Chandigarh to regulate the conduct of Departmental Examinations of Judicial Officers at its level. The Cabinet also gave nod to the amendment to the Rule 5 of Punjab Superior Judicial Service Rules, 2007 to clarity the minimum age for the appointment/ promotion for Punjab Superior Judicial Service. 

EXTENSION TO SERVICES OF 479 VETERINARY PHARMACISTS AND 472 SAFAI SEWAKS IN 582 VETERINARY HOSPITALS

In order to provide better health facilities to Livestock owners, the Cabinet also gave nod to extend the services of 479 Veterinary Pharmacists and 472 Safai Sewaks working in 582 Veterinary hospitals across the state as service providers from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. 

APPROVES RESTRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS 

The Cabinet also gave nod for Re-structuring of the Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs. As per restructuring nine new posts have been created by surrendering 11 posts and approval has also been accorded for the conversion of existing 13 temporary posts into permanent posts. 

EXTENDS SUPERSESSION OF MARKET COMMITTEES FOR ANOTHER TWO YEAR 

The Cabinet also gave approval to extend the period of supersession of market committees from one year to another two year i.e. up to July 26, 2025 and in case such market committees are not re-constituted in their extended period, the Administrators appointed by the Government, will continue to carry out the work of these committees till their reconstitution.

 Okays amendment in service rules of PWD 

The Cabinet also gave nod to Punjab Department of Public Works (Building and Roads) Draftsman (Group-'B') Service, Rules, 2024, Punjab Architecture (Group-C) Ministerial Services (First Amendment) Rules, 2024 and Punjab Public Works (Building and Roads Branch) Field office (Group-C Ministerial) Services Rules, 2024 in the Public Work Department for streamlining the functioning of the department in larger public interests. 

RESTRUCTURING OF WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT APPROVED 

The Cabinet also gave consent to surrender three posts of Sub Divisional Engineer and to create three posts of Tehsildars in the Department of Water Resources, to be filled up on deputation from the Department of Revenue. These Tehsildars will deals with all the matters to save the various properties of the department, defending the land related cases in the court, to prevent illegal encroachment of Government land by private persons, matter relating to revenue, matter relating to the land acquisition for various projects, matter relating to the announcements of awards for acquisition of land and they will also deals with the disputes arising out in land acquisition and announcement of awards. 

OKAYS amendment in the Punjab Water Resources Department Junior Draftsmen and Surveyors (Group C) Service Rules, 2021: The Cabinet also gave consent to Amendment in the Punjab Water Resources Department Junior Draftsmen and Surveyors (Group C) Service Rules, 2021. This stipulates that candidates for the recruitment of Junior Draftsmen and Surveyors (Group-C) of the Punjab Water Resources Department, with 2 years National Trade Certificate as well as degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering will also allowed to be considered provided that no additional weightage of higher qualification will be given to any prospective candidate.

GREEN SIGNAL TO ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT OF WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT 

The Cabinet also gave the green signal to Administrative Report of the Water Resources Department for the year 2022-23. 

APPROVES THE STATUTORY AUDIT REPORT OF THE COOPERATIVE DEPARTMENT 

The Cabinet also approved the statutory audit report of the Cooperative department from the year 2019-2020.