Cheema said, “The decision has been taken based on the administrative requirements to increase the number of Sub Divisions and creation of a new district.”

“The numbers of civil services officers reviewed after more than eight years will pave the way for increasing posts at the level of Joint Secretary in Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chief Minister’s Field Officers (earlier AC, Grievances), Sub Divisional Magistrates, EM-cum- Protocol Officers, ADC (UD), Directors, Mission Directors in the field and others,” the minister added.

Ponds along Ghaggar

The Cabinet also gave a nod for the construction of ponds along the Ghaggar river in Chandu village to recharge the groundwater.

Cheema said, “The government requires 20 acres of panchayat land for ponds which would be dug up to 40 feet. The Ghaggar in spate will fill these ponds with floodwater and villages like Chandu and others will be saved from flooding.”

“However, during other seasons, canals will replenish ponds for judicious use of water. This will help recharge the groundwater and farmers in adjoining areas can use this water for irrigation,” Cheema said, adding more ponds will be set up in the future to minimize the damage and destruction caused by the flooded Ghaggar.

Sessions Division Court

The Cabinet also gave the go-ahead to the creation of Sessions Division in Malerkotla, creating 36 new posts, including the post of District and Sessions Judge for Sessions Division, to ensure dispensation of justice to the people of Malerkotla district in their district itself. “This will save the time, money and energy of the common man as they will not need to travel to other districts seeking justice,” the minister said.

Deceased DSP’s widow to get govt jobs

In a humanitarian gesture, the Cabinet gave the green signal to the proposal to provide a government job to Rupinder Kaur, the wife of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandeep Singh who died in the line of duty.

Rupinder Kaur will be appointed as a Naib Tehsildar on compassionate grounds. While performing election duty, DSP Sandeep Singh died in a road accident on the intervening night of April 5 and 6.

Nod to amend Punjab GST Act, 2017

Facilitating taxpayers and ensuring tax compliance with them, the Cabinet accorded permission to amend the Punjab Good and Services Tax (PGST) Act, 2017 to define Input Service Distributors and the manner of distribution of credit by them, to take Extra Neutral Alcohol used in manufacture of alcoholic liquor for human consumption out of purview of State GST, to allow an authorized representative for appearing on behalf of the summoned person before the proper authority and to limit period for issuing demand notices and orders by reducing it to 42 months in respect of demands from the Financial Year 2024-25 onwards. It also aims to reduce the maximum amount of pre-deposit for filing an appeal before the Appellate Authority from Rs 25 crore to Rs 20 crore, to provide for a conditional waiver of interest and penalty in respect of demand notices issued under section 73 of the Act for the Financial Years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 and to give retrospective effect to section 168A of the PGST Act from March 31, 2020.

Nod to extend policy of engaging house surgeons/physicians for another year

The Cabinet approved the extension of the Health and Family Welfare Department’s policy to engage house surgeons/house physicians for another year to ensure unhindered and quality healthcare services.

Green signal to premature release of 3 prisoners

The Cabinet also gave its consent to send the case of three life convicts confined in jails of the state, seeking premature release. After the nod of the Cabinet under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, this special premature release case will be submitted to the Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution for consideration.