Chandigarh, August 14: 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 from the Chief Minister’s Office disclosed today that the Council of Ministers, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister at his official residence, made this decision in their meeting.

The session will start with obituary references on September 2, and the Business Advisory Committee will soon decide the agenda for the three-day assembly session.”

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. “We will bring the matter to the Cabinet meeting shortly.”Our sole aim is to facilitate the general public because illegal colonisers deceive people by showing them green pastures and selling them unapproved colonies. These hapless people then have to run from pillar to post to get basic civic amenities in these colonies. We will ensure that the state government safeguards the interests of the common man.”

CABINET : GREEN SIGNAL TO PUNJAB FIRE SAFETY 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 cases shall be dealt as per the risk classification of the buildings i.e. low, medium or high risk. This legislation shall have the provision related to insurance of the persons against fire risk and others. This Bill will bring more efficiency in the working of the Fire Department and will help in providing the fire and emergency services to all the residents of Punjab in urban as well as rural areas in a better way.

CABINET  GIVE CONSENT TO CREATE 49 POSTS IN SEVEN GRAM NYAYALAYAS

The Cabinet also gave approval for 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.

Cabinet  REDUCES MOTOR VEHICLE TAX ON REGISTERED TOURIST VEHICLES IN PUNJAB

The Cabinet also reduced motor vehicle tax on registered Tourist Vehicles in Punjab State.”Because the tax was much higher than the taxes on registered vehicles in neighboring states, the registration of tourist vehicles in Punjab State was very low. However, this move will reverse the trend and increase 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

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 committees formed at the Sub Division, District, and State levels will make the decision to cut and plant new trees. Additionally, the policy may generate some revenue for plantation and help preserve the green cover across the State, particularly in urban areas

GREEN SIGNAL TO LAUNCH A PROJECT FOR PROMOTING AGRO FORESTRY

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 Government of India, MoEF&CC, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Forest Department of Punjab will prepare the DPR of the project and implement it for a period of five years starting from 2025-26.”

DESIGNATES STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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, we provide relief separately from the State Budget, but the move aims to ensure that combining SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) with the State Budget will eliminate difficulties in providing timely and complete relief to those affected.”

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.

CABINET GIVE 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.

“Furthermore, we will no longer need to obtain a life certificate from the awardees every year, and after the awardee’s death, we will not need to apply for a monthly allowance (annuity) for his wife, as the process will complete automatically.”

the way of promotion will open for the ETT/JBT, HT and CHT cadre.

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. “This amendment divides the 20 percent promotion quota for the post of Master/Mistress among the 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.

CABINET  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 aims to meet the needs of the present time and improve the functioning of the family courts.”

CABINET  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.  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 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 approved extending the supersession period of market committees from one year to an additional two years, up to July 26, 2025. “If the market committees are not reconstituted within this extended period, the Government will have its appointed Administrators continue their work until the committees are reconstituted.”

CABINET 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 approved the surrender of three posts of Sub Divisional Engineer and the creation of three posts of Tehsildar in the Department of Water Resources. The Department of Revenue will deputize these Tehsildars.

They will handle all matters related to protecting the department’s properties, defending land-related cases in court, preventing illegal encroachments of government land by private individuals, addressing revenue issues, managing land acquisition for various projects, overseeing announcements of land acquisition awards, and resolving disputes arising from land acquisition and award announcements.”

OKAYS amendment in the Punjab Water Resources Department

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 the Punjab Water Resources Department will consider candidates for the recruitment of Junior Draftsmen and Surveyors (Group-C) who have a 2-year National Trade Certificate as well as a degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering, provided that the department will not give any additional weightage for higher qualifications 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.