Punjab cabinet meeting: Chief secy replaces CM as chairman of devp authorities
The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, amended Section 29(3) of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development (PRTPD) Act. The amendment empowers the chief secretary to lead the state's development authorities, a move modelled after urban planning bodies such as Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), NOIDA, Meerut, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
This decision follows the cabinet's approval two weeks ago for the acquisition or 'land-pooling' of 24,311 acres in Ludhiana and 6,285 acres around Mohali to facilitate new urban estates.
The reallocation of power marks a significant departure from Punjab's norm, where political figures — including chief ministers and ministers — have traditionally chaired key development bodies such as GMADA (Greater Mohali Area Development Authority), GLADA (Greater Ludhiana Development Authority), and PUDA (Punjab Urban Development Authority).
Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema explained that the move was aimed at improving the functioning of the development authorities. 'The chief minister is the chairman of the authority, but due to his busy schedule, the work sometimes gets delayed. This change will help streamline proceedings and ensure timely decision-making,' Cheema said during a media briefing.
Additionally, the cabinet has decided to include the departments of revenue, industry, water supply and sanitation, and others in the decision-making process of the development authorities, a step intended to enhance interdepartmental coordination.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has strongly criticised the move. SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema took to X (formerly Twitter), calling the decision 'illegal, unconstitutional, and arbitrary.' He pointed out that according to the 1995 Act, the chief minister and housing minister are ex-officio chairman and vice-chairman of the boards, respectively. He questioned the legality of replacing the CM with the chief secretary, suggesting that this undermines the authority of Cabinet ministers.
'Why is the office of CM being downgraded? Who is pressuring the Cabinet to act against constitutional norms?' Cheema wrote.
Nod to fill 500 posts in jail dept
In order to enhance the security in jails, the cabinet gave approval for filling 500 posts of various cadres in the jail staff.
This recruitment will include 29 assistant superintendents, 451 warders and 20 matrons, which will be done by Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, thereby helping to beef up the security in the jails, said an official spokesperson.
Policy for industrial plot sub-division approved
The cabinet also approved a comprehensive policy for the fragmentation and sub-division of industrial plots in PSIEC-managed industrial estates to enhance land use efficiency, the spokesperson said.
This policy caters to the demands of industrialists and plot owners as well as of prominent industry associations, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mohali Chamber of Industry & IT, and Mohali Industrial Association. It addresses the need for smaller industrial plots, particularly for the IT and service sectors, to promote efficient land use, attract investments and establish a structured, transparent mechanism for plot fragmentation and sub-division, said the spokesperson.
The policy facilitates the optimisation of land usage, boosts operational efficiency, and supports project expansion by addressing long-standing demands from industrial stakeholders. It applies to freehold plots of 1,000 square yards or larger, with subdivided plots maintaining a minimum size of 400 square yards. A fee of 5% of the current reserve price of the original plot will be charged, reduced to 50% for family members or legal heirs of a deceased allottee, the spokesperson added.
This policy includes a standard operating procedure (SOP) to streamline its implementation.
The cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for the constitution of the high-powered cabinet sub-committee to intensify the 'war on drugs' programme of the state. This move will further help in day-to-day scrutiny of the ongoing war against drugs thereby making Punjab free from the menace of drugs and wean away the youth of state from this scourge, according to the spokesperson.
Nod to frame Punjab fire and emergency services rules
The cabinet gave nod for framing of Punjab Fire and Emergency Services (Validity of Fire Safety Certificate) Rules, 2025. This will enable the state government to prescribe the period of fire safety certificate in the case of buildings or premises, including those of specified risk categories through a notification, the spokesperson said.
Factory rules amended
The cabinet gave approval to amend Rule 2A, Rule 3A, Rule 4 and Rule 102 of Punjab Factory Rules, 1952, for facilitating ease of doing business.
This will enable self-certification plans of the factories by any civil/ structural/ mechanical engineer with 5 years of experience or masters degree with two years experience subject to verification by the department. Structural stability certificate by any civil/structural engineer with five years of experience or masters degree with two years experience will also be allowed subject to verification by the department.
Likewise, women workers will be allowed to work in the manufacturing of pottery and ceramics, and the process of extracting vegetable oil which is banned presently, according to the spokesperson.
Consent to amend Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act
The cabinet also gave consent to amend the Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act 1965. Several provisions of the Act are no longer in line with present-day needs. So, various provisions of the Act have been amended to secure the interests of the Labour by making the Fund more realistic and progressive, according to the spokesperson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Philippine President Marcos to visit India as strategic ties deepen with defence, maritime cooperation
NEW DELHI: Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will embark on his first state visit to India from August 4 to 8, marking a major step in the evolving strategic partnership between the two Indo-Pacific democracies. The visit comes as both nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and expand cooperation in defence, maritime security, trade, and connectivity. President Marcos will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, several Cabinet ministers, senior officials, and a business delegation. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5 for bilateral talks and also call on President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. Marcos will later visit Bengaluru before concluding his trip, External Affairs Ministry said. India and the Philippines have significantly strengthened defence ties in recent years, most significantly through the 2022 $375 million deal for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. It was India's first export of the system to any foreign country. The acquisition boosts the Philippines' maritime defence posture in the contested South China Sea and India's potential as a reliable defence exporter. 'India is a friend,' President Marcos had said during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue last year. His upcoming visit is expected to reinforce that sentiment with new agreements likely in defence, maritime cooperation, and direct air connectivity, a source familiar with the development told TNIE.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
HC sets aside RDO's order restoring tribal land to non-tribal parties
Kochi: The high court has set aside the orders issued by the Ottappalam RDO and Palakkad district collector in 2010, which had wrongfully restored possession of around 12 acres of tribal land at Kottathara village in Agali, Palakkad, to non-tribal parties. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Harisankar V Menon delivered the judgment on Wednesday in a petition filed by Rangan of Kottathara and his three brothers, challenging the RDO's orders and the collector restoring possession of the tribal land to non-tribal parties. The petitioners contended that their father, Chathamooppan, had made an application under the Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act, 1975, stating that he had originally possessed around 12 acres in Kottathara, which had been transferred to certain non-tribal parties between 1964 and 1990 under the guise of various sale deeds. In 1995, the Ottappalam RDO, acting on the application, issued an order directing the non-tribal parties to deliver possession of the land to Chathamooppan and his brother within 30 days and further directed the applicants to pay compensation under the Act. However, in Dec 2010, the Ottappalam RDO, acting suo motu and without notice to the petitioners, sons of the deceased Chathamooppan, reviewed the 1995 order and restored possession of the land to the non-tribal parties under Section 5(1) of the Kerala Restriction on Transfer by and Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes Act, 1999, which permits the transfer of up to 2 acres of tribal land to non-tribal parties. The district collector upheld the RDO's order, prompting the petitioners to move HC. Upon perusal of the records, the bench held that the proceedings regarding the land in question under the 1975 Act had attained finality with the 1995 order of the RDO, as no one had challenged the same later. Further, the 1999 Act does not contain any provision authorising the RDO to review an order passed under the 1975 Act. Accordingly, the bench set aside the 2010 orders of the RDO and the collector. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Similarly, T V Krishnan of Agali, who is also a party respondent in Rangan's petition, filed a separate petition alleging that he had been interdicted by the police from cutting and removing timber from his property, based on a complaint filed by one Murugan of Agali. However, the court noted that Krishnan had failed to disclose that he was a party respondent in Rangan's petition. The court further directed the revenue authorities to verify whether the property referred to in Krishnan's petition is the same as that involved in Rangan's petition and to take appropriate action accordingly.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Forest Dept. grants permission to capture one more elephant in Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru dist.
The Forest Department has granted permission to capture one more elephant roaming in the villages of N.R. Pura taluk of Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru district. The department staff captured an elephant on July 29, following the incidents of human-elephant conflicts in the region. Prabhash Chandra Ray, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), issued an order on Saturday granting permission to capture a tusker, aged around 25 to 30, as per the Wildlife (Conservation) Act, 1972. MLA for Sringeri T.D. Raje Gowda had met Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre and appealed to him to grant permission to capture the trouble-causing elephant. Conservator of Forests of Chikkamagaluru, Yashpal Kshirasagar, had submitted a proposal seeking permission to capture the elephant that caused damage to crops and left the local people worried. The Forest Department captured a tusker on July 29, following protests by local people in N.R. Pura condemning the repeated incidents of human-elephant conflict in the region. The local people hit the streets of Balehonnur in N.R. Pura taluk on July 28, as two people had died in elephant attacks within a gap of four days. The department had given permission for the capture and relocation of one elephant. A team of officials succeeded in capturing a 15-year-old elephant near Elekallu in N.R. Pura taluk. The local people were anticipating that one more trouble-causing elephant would be captured. However, the PCCF had not granted permission to capture one more elephant.
