Relief for staff as govt eases promotion norms

Chandigarh

The Cabinet has decided to summon the next session of the Vidhan Sabha from August 2 to August 6. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today.

The session would commence on August 2 with obituary references. Legislative business would be transacted on August 5 and 6, from 11 am and 10 am, respectively. This means it would be a two-day session. The House would adjourn sine-die after the proposed legislative business on August 6.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the service rules to cut down experience requirement for promotion across various cadres. The amendment will help fill vacant posts of higher cadres.

As per the decision, there would be no reduction in experience if requisite qualifying service is two years or less. The reduction of one year would be permissible in case the requisite qualifying service is more than two years, but less than five years.

In case where the requisite qualifying service is seven years or more, the

The Cabinet sanctioned new teaching and non-teaching posts and regularised services for others in various state colleges. Restructuring of the administrative structure of the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation was also approved.

The Cabinet also decided to reduce the minimum land requirement for setting up private universities from 35 to 25 acres by amending the Punjab Private University Policy 2010.

The amendment would be subject to further clauses under the policy, including submission of proof of ownership of a minimum of 25 acres, or as per the norms of the Central regulatory body concerned, whichever is higher, in one contiguous chunk.

Officials said in other states, the corresponding land requirement for establishing private universities varies between 10 acres and 50 acres. For instance, in Haryana, it is 20 acres outside municipal limits and 10 acres within municipal limits. In Himachal Pradesh, it is 10 acres, Rajasthan 30 acres and Madhya Pradesh 20 acres. In Maharashtra, 50 acres is required to set up a private university in rural area, 25 acres in tehsil or district headquarters, 15 acres in divisional headquarters and 10 acres in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Key decisions by council of ministers

To ensure uninterrupted supply of drinking water in villages, an OTS scheme approved for clearing arrears of the rural water supply.
The Finance Department will now release Rs 298.61 crore against arrears for various rural water schemes.
Approval for four-year strategic action plans for four government departments.
Entry tickets for museums in Gobindgarh Fort to meet operational and maintenance expenses; and to boost “make in Punjab” incentives will be given to local manufacturers.

Coffee table book on 550th Gurpurb

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleagues on Wednesday released the first volume of a coffee table book on the 550th Prakash Purb celebrations of Guru Nanak. The book consists of 70 pages that vividly depict events being held from November to June next year as part of the celebrations. The events listed include the Kartarpur corridor foundation laying as well as various other development works dedicated to the historic occasion. Various projects launched by the state government have been highlighted in the publication. These include Pind Babe Nanak Da, Bebe Nanaki College for Girls, state-of-the-art auditorium, planting of 550 saplings in every village, Nanak Bagichi

reduction will be two years, while for qualifying service of 10 years or more, it would be three years, an official spokesperson said.