To ensure far more efficiency and transparency in the State’s revenue collection, Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to the draft proposal of Punjab e-stamp Rules-2014 for the implementation of e-stamping system.
“E-stamping would eliminate purchase of stamp papers and would ensure transparency, faster collection of registration fee and would guard against embezzlement,” said the government spokesperson.
E-DISTRICT PROJECT TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT PEOPlE’S DOORSTEP
As many as 47 key citizen-centric services, including birth-death certificates, pension services, ration card services, marriage, caste and residence certificates, RTI and grievances, have been selected under the e-district project to enhance accountability and transparency in functioning of government offices besides bringing services at the people’s doorstep. For the same, the Cabinet has given its approval to free Right of Way to BSNl for connecting state government offices at District, Sub Division, Block, Tehsil, Sub Tehsil level to State Wide Area Network established by Department of Governance Reforms under e-district Project — a state mission mode project as a part of National E-Governance Plan.
e-district project has already been successfully implemented in Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts as pilot project and now this project would be implemented in remaining 20 districts across the state within six months.
PUNJAB PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO PUBlIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY BIll-2014 APPROVED
Cabinet also gave approval to include words “blockade of rail or road traffic” in part 2 (C) of ‘The Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Bill-2014’ defining “damaging act”.
The amendment was required as in the recent past, there had been many incidents of violent demonstrations, agitations and damage to public and private property in the state. The Bill provides for punishment up to one-year and fine of Rs one lakh to those who damage public or private property through agitation, stroke, bandh and blockade of Rail or Road traffic.
“If the damage was done by making use of explosives, punishment would be up to two years and fine Rs one lakh. Amendment would not only act as a deterrent for miscreants to participate in such agitations and demonstrations and cause damage to public and private property, but also help to recover from them damages on this count,” said the spokesperson.
GREEN SIGNAl TO SET UP MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH STATE TECHNICAl UNIVERSITY
Cabinet also approved setting up of Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University, Bathinda Bill, 2014, for establishment and incorporation of a University for advancement of Technical Education and development thereof in the state.
The upcoming technical university would exercise territorial jurisdiction over Bathinda, Barnala, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur besides other areas outside Punjab.
Punjab earlier had only one technical university — Punjab Technical University (PTU) at Jalandhar and had 283 technical institutions (engineering, management, pharmacy, architecture and hotel management) affiliated to it with nearly 62000 seats.
CBI COURT AT PATIAlA
To ensure prompt disposal of cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the state, the Cabinet also gave nod for establishment of another CBI court at Patiala along with the requisite supporting staff.
125 Posts To Be Created Every Year For Outstanding Players
In pursuance of the State Government's policy to promote sports in the State, the Cabinet also gave its approval for exclusively creating 125 posts every year for outstanding players, who brought laurels to the state by winning medal in Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games.
ONE-TIME MOTOR VEHIClE TAX INCREASED
In a move aimed at upgrading the State’s road infrastructure, the Cabinet decided to increase the rate of one-time Motor Vehicle Tax levied at the time of issuing new stage carriage permit and for additional from existing Rs 1500 to Rs 2500 per kilometers in case of big buses. However in case of State Transport Undertaking, there would be no change.
DCs AUTHORIZED TO CANCEl ANY INVAlID DEED
Cabinet decided to authorize Deputy Commissioners to cancel any invalid deed, which might have on the basis of forged land record fard, expired or withdrawn or registered or cancelled power of attorney or impersonation. A Bill in this regard would be presented in the coming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
DEPT HEADS, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIES TO CONDUCT FIElD VISIT ON FRIDAYS
To ensure better coordination amongst the officers from the state Headquarters and field staff, the Cabinet also decided that head of the Departments or Administrative Secretaries would visit the field on every Friday. It was also decided that none of the officer posted in filed would be summoned for meeting at state headquarters on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.