litigants in Punjab may soon pay for the welfare of the advocates. For, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday put its stamp of approval on increasing the stamp paper rates from Rs 8 to Rs 15, and utilising the same money to provide financial help to the families of deceased advocates.
The State Cabinet has cleared the proposals of making amendments to the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2002, with a view to providing financial assistance to the family members of deceased advocates.
“The necessary amendments would be made in section 4, sub-section 3 (a) (b) (g), section 4 sub-section 5, schedule to section 17 and section 20 (i) for the enhancement of the value of stamp tickets affixed on the vakalatnama from Rs 8 to Rs 15. The amount, thus collected, would be utilised to provide financial help to the families of deceased advocates,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Cabinet gave permission to bring the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund (Third Amendment) Bill, 2014, by converting the already issued ordinance for its enactment in the ensuing Budget Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
In another decision, the Cabinet gave go-ahead to create a post of vice-chairman in the State Women Commission by amending the Punjab State Women Commission Act, 2001.
Conceding the long-pending demand of the state government’s employees, Cabinet decided to accord ex-post facto sanction to enhance commutation of pension from 20 to 30 per cent. The decision would also be applicable in case of pensioners who retired after April 1, 2013, and entitled for additional commutation on enhanced rates.
The Cabinet considered budgetary proposals for 2014-15 and accorded its approval to the same, which would be presented by the state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa on July 16.