Punjab MLAs who quit can get pension
The Punjab legislators who have resigned in the past have become eligible for pension by a new cabinet decision.
The Punjab legislators who have resigned in the past have become eligible for pension by a new cabinet decision.
To appease these MLAs, the council of state minister on Monday decided to bring an amendment to the Punjab State Legislature Members (Pension and Medical Facilities Regulation) Act, 1977, with retrospective effect from October 30, 2006.
Punjab parliamentary affairs minister Madan Mohan Mittal said those disqualified by any court of law would still be ineligible for pension.
“Earlier, the government had planned to bring a bill for this amendment in the previous budget session of the Vidhan Sabha but failed to because of technical reasons,” Mittal said on Monday here, adding that the ordinance passed on Monday would come up before the Vidhan Sabha within six months for approval.
“The matter was brought to the general committee of the House, so we decided to bring an amendment,” the minister added.
The Punjab cabinet also gave approval to omitting provision 3 (1-A) with effect from October 30, 2006, and amend provision 3 (5) of 1977 law. Under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, those declared disqualified are ineligible for pension during the said term.
Cabinet decisions
Celebrating 50 years of Punjab
To commemorate the 50 years of the reorganisation of Punjab, the cabinet on Monday approved state-level functions till November 1 to tell people about the struggle for Punjabi ‘Suba’.
Nature park at Sito Gunno
In recognition of the sacrifice of nature lover Amrita Devi and 363 other Bishnois who died opposing tree felling by the erstwhile ruler of Marwar (Jodhpur) in 1730, the cabinet approved a nature parkcum-memorial at Sito Gunno village in Abohar. The panchayat would give land and the state forest department bear the cost of the project.
Banda Bahadur’s death anniversary
The cabinet also gave approval for commemorating the 300th martyrdom anniversary of Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur from May 29 to June 30. The organising committee led by CM will have deputy CM as vice-chairman. The government will spend Rs 25 crore on the event, install a 20-foot statue of Banda Bahadur at Mehrouli, New Delhi, in a 7.5-acre park developed by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
Energy conservation building code gets nod
The cabinet gave nod to the Punjab energy conservation building code for MCs, local bodies, boards, corporations and government-aided institutions. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has developed the code for commercial buildings with connected load of 10kW and above or contract demand of 120kVA or more. The buildings would consume 40% less energy.
Dual pension allowed
The cabinet allowed dual family pension to widows of ex-servicemen who were reemployed by the Punjab government, on the lines of the ministry of defence. This will cost Rs 7.42 crore a year.
Extension in service
The cabinet aprproved service extension till June 30, 2017, to 582 veterinary pharmacists and 531 sweepers working as service providers in the civil veterinary hospitals.
Fee for artificial insemination
Approval was given to deposit purchase fee for artificial insemination services for livestock received from veterinary institutions to the Punjab livestock development board that buys equipment.