The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, approved the summoning of the fifth Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha on November 28-29.
The decision was made during the Council of Ministers’ meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat-I. The session will commence with obituary references on November 28, and the business for the two-day assembly session will be determined by the Business Advisory Committee shortly.
The Cabinet also granted approval for the creation and filling of nine technical cadre positions through direct recruitment at Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Sports University, Patiala. These positions include one Assistant Manager, two Programmers, two Technical Assistants, and one Clerk-cum-Data Entry Operator. The university, established to enhance sports standards in the state, aims to streamline its operations and facilitate routine tasks for students.
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Approval was given for the Punjab Canal and Drainage Bill, 2023, designed to regulate and manage canals and drainage in the state. The bill aims to ensure unhindered canal waters for irrigation, canal maintenance, repair, and timely cleanliness, and establish a fair mechanism for addressing water user grievances.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the closure of the Punjab State Social Welfare Board (PSSWB) and the merger of its staff, including PSSWB Headquarter employees, pensioners, and five ICDS blocks, into the Department of Social Security, Women, and Child Development.
The Cabinet’s consent was also granted for submitting a case for the premature release of one life convict in state jails and rejecting four similar cases. These special remission/premature release cases will be forwarded to the Punjab Governor for consideration under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution.
Furthermore, approval was given for the Annual Administrative Report of the Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives, and Museum Department, Punjab, for the year 2021-2022.
