In a display of legislative speed rarely seen before, Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday passed three key Bills in just nine minutes, without a single discussion or debate. Not a single Minister or an MLA spoke on the Bills in the House, but later, some issued statements while others held special press conferences to explain their significance. The last day of the week-long budget session, instead of witnessing intense deliberations, turned into a swift approval process, leaving little room for scrutiny.
The three Bills — The Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025; The Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025; and The Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units and Stockists and Retailers Bill, 2025 — were cleared one after another, with the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan even prompting MLAs to at least voice their votes. The hurried proceedings wrapped up well before the scheduled time, giving the impression that the House was in a rush to wind up business rather than engage in meaningful discussions.
The Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Hardip Singh Mundian introduced the Stamp Amendment Bill, which was passed within three minutes. The Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar tabled the Prisoners Bill, which also took just three minutes to clear. The Mines Minister Barinder Goyal followed with the Crusher Regulation Bill, passed in less than four minutes.
With no explanations given in the House, the Government later scrambled to justify the legislation. Ministers Aman Arora and Barinder Goyal addressed the media to highlight the importance of the Crusher Regulation Bill, while the other two Ministers issued statements to explain the significance of their respective Bills.
Punjab Enacts Stricter Regulations for Crusher and Mining Industry
In a major crackdown on unregulated mining, the Government has enacted Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units and Stockists and Retailers Bill, bringing strict oversight, digital monitoring, and stringent penalties to a sector long plagued by corruption. Announcing the new law at Punjab Bhawan, Cabinet Ministers Arora and Goyal emphasized that the move would ensure transparency and accountability in mining operations.
Under the new legislation, registration of all crusher units, stockists, and retailers is now mandatory, ending the era of unchecked mining. Each registered unit must file monthly returns, with strict penalties, including fines, license suspension, and even criminal proceedings for non-compliance. To further tighten control, the government has introduced a ‘Digital Monitoring System’, tracking every stage of mining — from extraction to transportation — through an online portal.
The law also establishes an ‘Environment Management Fund’ to address ecological concerns arising from mining activities. Stressing that the law is reformative, not punitive, the Ministers asserted that defaulting units will face license suspension after two months and termination after three months. They hailed the initiative as a “landmark step” by the government to transform Punjab’s mining sector into a clean, regulated industry.
Punjab Amends Stamp Act to Ease Business Costs, Boost Growth
House passed Indian Stamps (Punjab Amendment) Bill — a move aimed at fostering a business-friendly environment by reducing financial burdens on entrepreneurs and investors. Announcing the Bill’s significance, Minister Mundian, in a statement, said that the amendment would cut business costs and accelerate economic growth across the State. He hailed the initiative as a “progressive reform”. The amendment primarily benefits individuals and businesses dealing with mortgaged properties. Under the new law, if a borrower transfers a mortgaged property to another bank or financial institution without altering the original mortgage, no additional stamp duty will be imposed — unless the new loan exceeds the previous amount, in which case, duty applies only to the additional amount.
Punjab Legalizes Interstate Transfer of High-Risk Prisoners
Government passed Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Bill allowing undertrial prisoners to be transferred to jails in other states for security reasons. Jails Minister Bhullar, in a statement, emphasized that Punjab, being a border state, houses several high-risk prisoners — including terrorists, smugglers, and category 'A' gangsters — who continue their operations from within jails. The amendment provides legal authorization for their transfer, ensuring tighter security and improved prison administration. Previously, no provision allowed Punjab’s undertrials to be relocated across state lines, making it challenging to manage prison security and organized crime networks. The Minister stressed that these amendments were essential to maintain law and order, safeguarding Punjab’s internal security while ensuring a more effective prison management system.
