Punjab Vidhan Sabha to have 1-day special session on Nov.6 to mark 550th Prakash Purb
Author(s): City Air NewsBatala, October 24, 2019: The Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to summon a Special Session of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha for one day, on November 6, 2019, for commemoration of the historic 550th Prakash...
Batala, October 24, 2019: The Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to summon a Special Session of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha for one day, on November 6, 2019, for commemoration of the historic 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The Cabinet, at a meeting here chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, approved recommending to the Governor summoning of the 9th session of the House under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution of India.
The Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues were here to review the progress of various projects for the mega events being organized to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the Great Guru.
Approval for IDIPT project variation
In another decision, the Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for variation in the sub-projects implemented under Trance-1 of the Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism (IDIPT). The decision has been taken in line with the revised proposal for implementation of the sub-projects under Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) assisted Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism (IDIPT) project, according to an official spokesperson.
The objective of the revision is to expedite the development works being done under the IDIPT project and ensure their timely completion. The variation, up to 10% of the sub-project cost, shall be allowed by the Project Director, and up to 15% by the Administrative Secretary.
The Chief Secretary and the Chairman State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) have been authorized to permit variation above 15%, after obtaining the concurrence of ADB.
Mohali Medical College recruitment
Meanwhile, in a bid to provide affordable healthcare and diagnostic services to the public and to offer an opportunity to students to pursue a career in medical education, the Council of Minister also approved phase-wise recruitment of 994 new posts of faculty, paramedical staff and other posts, for setting up of Government Medical College, SAS Nagar (Mohali), with intake of 100 seats for MBBS course. This decision would pave the way for the first session of the new college to begin in 2020-21.
Qila Androon maintenance
The Cabinet also gave the nod for revival of four vacant posts, including two safai sewaks, a ragi and a frash, at Burj Baba Ala Singh, Qila Androon in Patiala, which has a total of 19 posts. The maintenance work of this fort is entrusted to the Cultural Affairs Department. Pertinently, the Qila Mubarak was first built in 1763 as a ‘Kachigarhi’ (mud fortress) by Baba Ala Singh, who was the founder of the Patiala dynasty. Later, it was reconstructed in baked bricks.
Guidelines for incentives to Closed Industrial Units
In a move aimed at settling the state’s liability of sanctioned capital investment incentive under various Industrial Policies, the Cabinet okayed new guidelines for the disbursement of sanctioned capital subsidy/investment incentives to the Closed Industrial Units in the state under industrial policies of 1978, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2003. This will help clear the liability of the state by way of disbursement of capital subsidy to the eligible and entitled industrial units, as defined in the Guidelines. It would also encourage industrialists to set up new industrial units in the state, to enhance the employment potential and further boost the state’s economy.
Other decisions
In another decision, the Cabinet approved reduction in the existing provision of maximum period of continuous leave of five years to three years, by amending rule 3.25 of Punjab Civil Services, Volume-1, Part-1.
Ex-post facto approval was also given for revival of two posts of Drivers at Punjab Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh.
The Cabinet has also approved the Annual Administrative Report of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department Punjab highlighting its activities and achievements for the year 2017-18.
PUNJAB CABINET PAVES WAY FOR APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITIES
Batala, October 24, 2019: The way has been cleared for appointments to be made to the State Police Complaints Authority and Divisional Police Complaints Authorities under ‘The Punjab Police Act, 2007’, with the state Cabinet on Thursday approving the Punjab Police (Appointment of Chairperson and Members of Complaints Authorities), Rules, 2019.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Section 54 provides that an officer of the rank either of Chief Secretary or Secretary to Government of India or Director General of Police can be appointed as the Chairperson of the State Police Complaints Authority. The other two members could be in the rank of Principal Secretary/ADGP or persons from academic/social work/law and public affairs field. One of the three persons has to be a woman.
Under the rules, the Divisional Police Complaints Authorities are to be headed by Chairperson and two other members. Officers of the rank of the Secretary or DIG can be appointed as Chairperson, whereas the other members have to be drawn from officers of the rank of SSP or persons from academic/social work/law and public affairs field.
The State Police Complaints Authority provides for constitution of a Selection Committee headed by Chief Secretary as its Chairperson, with Additional Chief Secretary Home and nominee of the Advocate General, Punjab, as Members, while the Secretary or Special Secretary Home shall be its Member Secretary.
The Selection Committee will invite applications, and after their scrutiny, prepare a list of candidates to be recommended for the offices of Chairperson and Members. The list will be submitted to Government, which shall make the appointments.
PUNJAB GOVT DECIDES TO REGULATE FEE STRUCTURE IN PRIVATE HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITIES BY BRINGING THEM UNDER 2006 ACT PURVIEW
Batala, October 24, 2019: In pursuance of the recommendations of a Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted in June this year, the Punjab Government has decided to regulate the fee in Private Health Sciences Universities to check the undue burden caused on students as a result of exorbitant charges levied by such institutions.
The State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Thursday gave approval to amend the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fee and Making of Reservation) Act 2006 by promulgating an Ordinance.
A Cabinet Sub Committee, comprising the then Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Higher &Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, had made this recommendation in the interest of the students.
The cabinet today approved amendment in the 2006 Act in order to bring private health sciences universities under its purview. With this amendment, the fee fixed by the state government would be applicable to private universities also.
Pertinently, the Act of 2006 basically stipulates that the Government can prescribe a fee structure for private medical institution running health science course and distribute their seats between the Management and Government Quota. As per the Act, the fee for medical colleges and other health institution is fixed by the state government from time to time. The fee for MBBS course in private institutions is Rs.2.20 lakh per annum for open quota/government quota (50%) seats and Rs.6.60 lakh per annum for management quota seats.
It may be recalled that from 2012 onwards, many private medical colleges were constituted in private health sciences universities and they challenged the fee fixed under the 2006 Act in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on the ground that it was applicable to private health sciences institutions and not to the private universities. The High Court, vide its order dated May 1, 2019, had accepted their plea and held that private health sciences universities are not covered under the 2006 Act.
4-YEAR STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS GET CABINET APPROVAL FOR 4 PUNJAB DEPARTMENTS
Batala, October 24, 2019: The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval for a Four-Year Strategic Action Plan (4SAP)–2019 to 2023, to set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the departments of Social Security and Child Development and Women Welfare, Transport, Industry and Commerce and Cooperation.
The action plan, which was taken up by the cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, will also set the key performance parameters (KPPs) for Government officials to enable integration of the departments into the development process of the state. It was also decided to approve their integration into the State Budgetary process.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that these key parameters were in line with the United Nations 2030 Development agenda, which contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), comprehensively covering social, economic and environmental dimensions. Focused on goals, targets and performance assessment of each department, these would be reflected in the Annual Performance Appraisal Reports of key personnel as per targets assigned to them.
The SDGs and targets had been mapped to the Administrative Departments, with each SDG assigned to one Nodal Department as one goal related to many departments. Besides, the state had also adopted the National Indicators Framework, with implementing departments preparing the state specific indicators.
It may be recalled that in order to take up proper planning, implementation and monitoring of the progress of realisation of the UN SDGs, the State Government had earlier constituted a Task Force headed by the Finance Minister, besides appointing a steering committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
PUNJAB GOVT TO INCREASE ITS SHARE IN NEW PENSION SCHEME FOR GOVT EMPLOYEES
Batala, October 24, 2019: The Punjab Government has hiked its monthly matching contribution for employees under the New Pension Scheme from 10% to 14% of Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance (DA), in line with the decision of the Government of India.
The decision has been taken by the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, and is in tandem with the notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, GoI, on January 31, 2019.
In another pro-employee initiative, the Cabinet also approved the benefit of Death-Cum-Retirement Gratuity to all the employees of state government recruited on or after January 1, 2004 and covered under the New Pension Scheme.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for action taken by the Department of Finance with the request to allow implementation of the benefit of ex-gratia to the dependents of employees recruited on or after January 1, 2004, who die in harness.
CABINET OKAYS SETTING UP OF “JAGAT GURU NANAK DEV PUNJAB STATE OPEN UNIVERSITY” AT PATIALA
Batala, October 24, 2019: As part of the state government’s commemoration of the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday okayed the establishment of the “Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University” at Patiala.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that a Bill would be presented in the next session of the Vidhan Sabha for the enactment of “Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Act 2019”.
The decision to set up the open university is in line with the global shift in the nature of education, with more and more students pursuing online courses through distance education. Such Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) are becoming increasing popular worldwide, thus prompting the Punjab Government to also follow suit by deciding to set up this University for Open and Distance Learning in reverence to the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the first Sikh Guru.
The main objective of the University is to provide educational opportunities to students with no or little access to institutions of regular higher learning. The University would focus on the realization of equal opportunities in higher education for all sections of the population, including those in employment, women/house wives, adults and Non Resident Indians, who wish to upgrade their qualification or acquire knowledge and studies in various fields through Open and Distance Learning mode.
This institute of higher learning would also provide flexibility with regard to eligibility enrolment, age of entry, choice of courses, methods of learning, conduct of programmes, besides offering degree, diploma and certificate courses for the benefit of the working population in various disciplines.
PUNJAB CABINET GIVES NOD FOR EXTRADITION OF KULJINDER KAUR THANDI FROM UK
BATALA, OCTOBER 24, 2019: The Punjab Cabinet has approved extradition from United Kingdom of Kuljinder Kaur Thandi, wanted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), thus setting the stage for the formalities of her extradition to be completed soon.
Kuljinder, w/o Raj Pal Singh, r/o Village-Thinda (PS Mehtiana), District Hoshiarpur, is wanted in FIR No. 16 dated March 2, 2015 under Sections 201, 302, 404, 406, 420, 120-B IPC, under which the maximum punishment is death penalty.
However, under the Extradition Treaty between India and UK, an undertaking is required to be given that the accused person, if extradited to India, will not be executed with death penalty. In line with the Extradition Treaty’s provisions, and in accordance with the Indian Constitution, the state cabinet has cleared the proposal to seek commutation of Kuljinder’s death sentence, if so accorded by the courts, from the Governor.
Thandi is currently a resident of No-8, Street Heather Drive City, Dartfort Kent in the United Kingdom.