Taking a stringent action towards checking the incidents of desecration of holy books, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft bill proposing to enhance the punishment in such cases, pertaining to all religions, to the life imprisonment.
The amended bill, along with six others passed by the cabinet in its meeting, will be tabled in the Vidhan Sabha session starting from Friday, August 24.
The Cabinet has approved amendments to Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Penal Code (IPC) to make sacrilege of all religious texts punishable with life imprisonment.
The decision is a major step towards curbing incidents of sacrilege and maintaining communal harmony in the state, said the official spokesperson.
The Cabinet has approved insertion of Section 295AA to the IPC to provide that “whoever causes injury, damage or sacrilege to Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Srimad Bhagwad Geeta, Holy Quran and Holy Bible with the intention to hurt the religious feelings of the people, shall be punished with imprisonment for life”.
Approval was also given to the withdrawal of Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, (Bill No.7-PlA-2016) and the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, (Bill No.6-PlA-2016), passed in the twelfth session of 14th Vidhan Sabha in 2016.
At the same time, a nod has been given to the introduction of ‘The Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018’ and ‘The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018’, in the ensuing session.
CONSTITUTION OF PUNJAB STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIl
To ensure planned and coordinated development of Higher Education in the state, the Cabinet has approved the constitution of ‘Punjab State Higher Education Council’ by bringing a bill in the Vidhan Sabha.
The Council, to be headed by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, will have the Higher Education Minister as its vice-chairman and Higher Education administrative secretary as the member secretary.
The move, which would fulfill one of the pre-requisites of the next phase of Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan-2 (RUSA) for the state to be eligible for receiving grants under the Central scheme, was primarily aimed at ensuring quality higher education in Punjab’s institutions by facilitating optimum sharing of resources between universities and colleges, especially for research purposes, academic and governance reforms besides monitoring and evaluation of Higher Education institutions.
For the next phase of RUSA, commencing in June this year, an outlay of Rs 174 crores had been approved by the Project Approval Board of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 60:40 Centre-State ratio.
RESERVATION OF EMPlOYEES IN PROMOTIONS
To safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Cabinet has also okayed the introduction of a Bill in the Vidhan Sabha for ensuring restoration of 14 percent reservation in Group A and B and 20 percent reservation in Group C and D to the members of SCs in promotions.
The enactment of the legislation would pave way for implementation of benefit of reservation in promotion as provided in Article 16(4)(A) of the Constitution of India with effect from February 20, 2018.
loP AllOWED TO USE PRIVATE CAR
Punjab Cabinet has accepted the proposal of the Department of Parliamentary Affairs to allow the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha to use his private car in lieu of government car, which would be returned by him to the government.
The Department had mooted the proposal after the former loP, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, had requested to allow him to use his private vehicle in lieu of government vehicle.
Main opposition, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has only recently replaced Khaira as the leader of opposition with its MlA Harpal Singh Cheema.
SERVICE EXTENSION FOR ANIMAl HUSBANDRY SERVICE PROVIDERS
To provide better services to dairy farmers in the remote rural areas, and to implement new activities and schemes of the Animal Husbandry Department, the
Cabinet has decided to extend contract of service providers, including 516 Veterinary pharmacists and 531 Safai Sewaks, up to March 30, 2019.
PMIDF ACT EXTENDED TO 2037-38
The Cabinet also approved the local Government Department’s proposal for amending the validity of Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund (PMIDF) Act, 2011, to extend its validity till 2037-38, from the earlier 2020-21, and presenting the related Bill in the session.
The decision would help in availing Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) loan worth Rs 1,540 crore for the completion of ongoing Water Supply and Sewerage and STP works under the Urban Mission in the state.
The Cabinet has given its nod for the presentation of the related Bill in the forthcoming session of the Vidhan Sabha.