Days before completing the third year in power, the Congress led Punjab Government is all set to bring Punjab Lokayukta Bill, 2020, covering all levels of public functionaries, up to the Chief Minister. The State Cabinet on Monday gave its approval to the Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the Vidhan Sabha during the ongoing budget session.
Implementing Lokpal is the major poll promise of the Congress party ahead 2017 elections. With this decision, the Government would repeal the existing Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996, and the new legislation will be applicable to the Chief Minister, Ministers, non-officials or officials of all the public offices, with the aim of further enhancing governance and checking corruption.
The sweeping reform measure envisages an autonomous body to inquire into the grievances and allegations against public functionaries in the State, and to make provisions for appointment of Lokayukta and for the matters connected therewith. The Lokayukta shall have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. It will also provide for prosecution in case of false complaint.
Prosecution of the Chief Ministers and MLAs can be sanctioned only with two-third majority of the House under the new legislation. Further, all sanctions by the Assembly, whether or not permission to prosecute is granted, will be binding on the Lokpal.
Before issuance of the notice, all complaints will be scrutinized by a screening committee of the Lokpal, which will also take the Government’s opinion in the matter, said an official spokesperson, giving details of the key provisions of the Bill.
The legislation bars a parallel probe into a complaint against any officer or public functionary if an inquiry is being conducted in the matter by the Lokpal. Similarly, the Lokpal will not have the authority to conduct a parallel inquiry of the matter is already under investigation by the Government.
The Lokayukta shall consist of a chairperson, who is or has been a Judge of the High Court or the Supreme Court. Such number of members, not exceeding four, shall be appointed by the Government (provided that at least one of the member of the Lokayukta shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, or the Backward Classes, or the Minorities, or Women), all of whom shall be qualified personnel with impeccable reputation. The chairperson and members shall be appointed by the Governor on the basis of majority of the recommendation of a selection committee, consisting of the Chief Minister as chairperson, besides Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court and eminent Jurist nominated by the Punjab government as its members.
CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE TO SUGGEST WAYS TO ELIMINATE FOODGRAIN PROCUREMENT FINANCIAL GAP
To address the financial gap resulting from systemic issues in foodgrain procurement process, the Cabinet has constituted a sub-committee, comprising Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
The three-member sub-committee would work out the modalities for the elimination of financial gap, which is to be cleared through budget provision, besides suggesting ways to bring greater transparency and efficiency in the proposed Punjab Food Grains Labour & Cartage Policy, 2020-21.
Spokesperson said that the step would go a long way in ensuring a level playing field for all the stakeholders, besides minimizing the financial gaps.
APPROVAL TO AMEND FRBM ACT TO ENABLE ADDITIONAL BORROWING OF RS 928 CR
Cabinet decided to amend the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003, to allow the state to make an additional borrowing of Rs 928 crore in 2019-20 over and above its net borrowing ceiling of three percent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)
PUNJAB SELF-SUPPORTING COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES RULES-2019 OKAYED
Cabinet approved the formulation of ‘Punjab Self-Supporting Co-operative Rules, 2019’ to facilitate voluntary formation of self-supporting co-operative societies as independent, self-reliant and democratic business enterprises that are free from outside interference. It provide for forms of application for registration of self-supporting cooperatives, for conversion of a primary cooperative society into a self-supporting co-operative society. It also include instructions on writing off bad debts and losses, displaying list of defaulting members of the society.