Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed 10 Bills amid sloganeering by the Opposition Congress legislators even as two controversial bills on the formation of a special security group and damage to property were withdrawn. The legislators also increased their own allowances as well as those of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
All the 10 Bills were passed by majority vote amid much uproar, with the Opposition trying to stall the house proceedings after the Speaker ruled that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal could make a statement at the start of zero hour before allowing time to it (Opposition).
Notably, the Punjab Legislative Assembly (Salaries and Allowances of Members) Amendment Bill, 2011, allows hike in house loan limit to Rs 50 lakh for legislators. The loan for house repair has been hiked to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 15 lakh will now be allowed for purchasing a car. The MLAs will also be eligible for transport allowance at the rate of Rs 12 to Rs 15 per km.
The Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker’s and Deputy Speaker’s Salaries (Second Amendment) Bill, 2011, allows the family and the dependents of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to travel by train or aeroplane. Now onwards, they would also not have to furnish any bills for free travel facility of up to Rs 2 lakh, as allowed to them.
In another significant development, the ruling SAD bowed to the demand of its coalition partner, the BJP, by bringing in the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Amendment Bill, 2011. The Bill calls for punishment up to 10 years for cow slaughter, besides a penalty of Rs 10,000. Also passed was the Punjab Land Reforms Amendment Bill, 2011, which allows relaxation from land ceiling laws for those who are not tilling land.
Among the other Bills passed were the Guru Kashi University Bill regarding the setting up of another private university at Talwandi Sabo and the Punjab School Education Board Amendment and Extension Bill, 2011, which allows for extension in the term of its Chairman Dr DS Dhillon for one year. The other Bills were Punjab State Commission for NRIs Bill, 2011, which calls for the formation of a commission for NRIs, Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training (Amendment) Bill, 2011, the Punjab Land Revenue Second Amendment Bill, 2011, and the Punjab Health Systems Corporation Amendment Bill 2011.
In another significant development, the government withdrew three bills. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said both the Punjab Special Security Group Bill, 2010, and the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public Property Bill, 2010, had been withdrawn following objections by various people groups. He said an apprehension had been created that these Bills would curtail the liberty of people, which was not the intention of the government.
Sukhbir said the Special Security Group Bill had been proposed after the Mumbai terror attacks and that the special group being formed under it would not be involved in police work, as was being felt by some people. He said similarly there were objections to the Bill on damage to public property that people would have to take permission from the sub-divisional magistrate for holding demonstrations. He said both Bills were being reworked and would be brought into effect through ordinances soon.
The Punjab Civil Services Amendment Bill has also been withdrawn with the government deciding not to go in for contractual employment in government service.
BILLS PASSED
The Punjab Legislative Assembly (Salaries and Allowances of Members) Amendment Bill, 2011
- Allows hike in house loan limit of up to Rs 50 lakh for MLAs
- Loan for house repair hiked to Rs 3 lakh
- Rs 15 lakh allowed for buying a car
- MLAs to be eligible for transport allowance at the rate of Rs 12 to Rs 15 per km
The Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker’s and Deputy Speaker’s Salaries (Second Amendment) Bill, 2011
- Allows the family and the dependents of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to travel by train or aeroplane
- They would not have to furnish any bills for free travel facility up to Rs 2 lakh
The Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker’s and Deputy Speaker’s Salaries (Second Amendment) Bill, 2011
- Allows the family and the dependents of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to travel by train or aeroplane
- They would not have to furnish any bills for free travel facility up to Rs 2 lakh
The Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Amendment Bill, 2011
- Calls for punishment up to 10 years for cow slaughter, besides a penalty of Rs 10,000
The Punjab Land Reforms Amendment Bill, 2011
- Allows relaxation from land ceiling laws for those who are not tilling land
The Guru Kashi University Bill
- Allows setting up of a private university at Talwandi Sabo
The Punjab School Education Board Amendment and Extension Bill, 2011
- Allows for extension in the term of its chairman Dr DS Dhillon for one year
Punjab State Commission for NRIs Bill, 2011
- Calls for the formation of a commission for NRIs
The Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training (Amendment) Bill, 2011
- The Punjab Land Revenue Second Amendment Bill, 2011
- The Punjab Health Systems Corporation Amendment Bill 2011
The Punjab Special Security Group Bill, 2010
- Had been proposed after the Mumbai terror attacks
The Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public Property Bill, 2010
- People would have to take permission from the SDM for holding demonstrations
- The Punjab Civil Services Amendment Bill n Has been withdrawn as govt has decided against contractual employment
News Source: The Tribune
