The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday decided to place the Punjab Police (Amendment) Ordinance-2018 — aimed at rationalising the the police structure — before the Vidhan Sabha for enactment during the budget session, scheduled to start on March 20.
Besides, the Cabinet has also approved the draft of Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Services Bill-2018 while also deciding to set up a sub-committee on Governance Reforms. The Punjab Police (Amendment) Ordinance, promulgated by the Governor on January 2, had replaced DIGs with IGs in the ranges as part of the government’s efforts to rationalise the police structure in the state.
Under the provisions of the new Act, “the officer of subordinate ranks of district police, armed police, intelligence, investigation and technical and support services shall form separate cadres. Seniority of each cadre shall be maintained at the State level. Transfer of a member of one cadre to another cadre shall not be allowed”.
It added that an officer of subordinate rank, working in special operation group, may be transferred to district police after the successful completion of the fixed tenure in special operation group as specified by the Government.
In case an officer of subordinate rank is rendered completely or partially disabled during operations or training, the period of fixed tenure can be relaxed by the Director General of Police for the purpose of transfer to district police. The subordinate rank officer, who opt for transfer to district police, if transferred, his seniority shall be placed at the bottom of the officers holding the same rank in the district police. Another section stated that each police range shall be headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police or Deputy Inspector General of Police who shall supervise the police administration of such range, and report to the Director General of Police directly or through any superior officer as and when posted.
In another decision to boost efficiency, transparency and accountability in the delivery of citizen services, the Cabinet gave it nod to the draft bill repealing the earlier Punjab Right to Service (RTS) Act, 2011.
The key features of the legislation, prepared by the Department of Governance Reforms and Public Grievances to overcome the shortcomings and weaknesses in the existing RTS Act-2011, include backend computerization of all public services within three to five years, online receipt of service requests as a mandatory provision and electronic delivery of services to citizens in a time-bound manner.
Other features encompass inclusion of a healthy system of incentives and disincentives for the public authorities and their staff, intimation or tracking of application status by the applicants through mobiles or internet regarding their service requests, and simplified redressal or appeal mechanism, besides a lean and thin Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Services Commission with faster delivery of justice. Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to the constitution of Punjab Governance Reforms and Ethics Commission (PGREC) to bring transparency, accountability and efficiency in all Govt Departments.