To mark the year-long celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday took a slew of decisions including enhancing parole from 12 to 16 weeks during the calendar year, besides approving Rs 60 lakh compensation to the Sikh community against damage to properties in Shillong clashes.

The Cabinet, during its meeting presided over by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, has gave its nod to amend Section 3 Sub-Section 2 of the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962, to increase the regular parole given to the prisoners with good conduct from existing three to four weeks, and total parole from 12 to 16 weeks during a calendar year.

The Bill will also be introduced in the ensuing session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, starting from December 13.

Spokesperson said that the step was aimed at ensuring the welfare of prisoners with good conduct by giving them continuous parole of 16 weeks, while adding that it would also encourage other prisoners to maintain discipline in jails.

Notably, in view of good behaviour and discipline amongst prisoners in different jails of the state, they are temporarily released on parole as specified in the provisions of Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962. A 15-day parole is granted to prisoners on the death of any of their family members.

There is a provision of granting 120 days parole to a female prisoner on account of delivery of her child. Apart from this, six-week parole is given to prisoners for marriage of children, agricultural purpose, serious damage to life or property of the member of the family caused by natural calamity and for critical condition of any member of the family on account of accident and on account of delivery of child by his wife, which would now be given maximum up to 16 weeks during a calendar year and shall be availed on quarterly basis.

Rs 60L COMPENSATION TO SHILLONG VICTIMS

The Cabinet also approved relaxation in instructions of the Relief and Resettlement Department for providing Rs 60 lakh as compensation to the Sikh community against damage caused to their properties during violence in Shillong.

Spokesperson said that out of the total Rs 60 lakhs, Rs 50 lakh would be provided to Khalsa Middle School, Bara Bazar, for reconstruction as its old building has been declared unsafe.

Similarly, monetary assistance to the tune of Rs two lakh would be given to Sangam Singh of Punjabi Colony Bara Bazar for loss caused to his shop in violence.

Apart from this, Rs three lakh would be given to Gurmeet Singh, whose scooty showroom was put on fire during clashes, while Rs five lakh is being given to Satpal Singh, the owner of a truck which was set ablaze during the riots at Shillong.

Notably, Capt Amarinder had deputed a four-member delegation, led by Cooperation and Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, to visit Shillong for taking stock of damage caused to the properties of Sikh community in violence. The delegation had detailed deliberations with the members of the community, where certain requests were made by the Sikhs for monetary assistance.

On their return from the strife-torn areas of Shillong, the delegation submitted a report and apprised the Chief Minister about the situation. Capt Amarinder on September 28, 2018, ordered that requisite amount be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the Punjabi settlers, whose shops were gutted, besides construction of a community-run school.

SIMPLIFIED GST ORDINANCE TO BE TABLED BEFORE HOUSE

In another decision, the Cabinet also gave its nod to introduce the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance-2018 in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha session beginning from December 13.

It may be recalled that the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, was promulgated on October 23, 2018, in order to simplify the process of filing returns and payment of tax with minimum paperwork.

As per clause 2 of Article of 213 of the Constitution, an Ordinance shall be laid before the Legislative Assembly of State for conversion of the Ordinance into Act.