CABINET GIVES NOD FOR AMENDING PUNJAB RIGHT TO BUSINESS RULES, 2020 TO FACILITATE EXPANSION BY EXISTING INDUSTRIAL UNITS

GREEN SIGNAL FOR CREATING 810 POSTS FOR SUBORDINATE COURTS OF THE STATE INCLUDING POSTS OF 25 ADDITIONAL DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGES AND 80 CIVIL JUDGES

ACCORDS APPROVAL TO AMEND PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE MARKETS ACT- 1961

Chandigarh, June 24:In order to give further fillip to industrial development in the state, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave nod for amending the Punjab Right to Business Rules, 2020 to include expansion by existing units under the purview of the Punjab Right to Business Act 2020.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the council of Ministers held here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat-I under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Divulging the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that to promote Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the state, the Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 was notified on February 6, 2020 and subsequently the Punjab Right to Business Rules, 2020 were also notified on July 29, 2020. These were applicable to the newly incorporated Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Punjab. But the new amendment in the Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 will provide an enabling ecosystem for self declaration, exemptions; expedite approvals and inspections for existing MSMEs too, for expanding and operating in the state.

But with this significant move all the existing enterprises undertaking expansion will be eligible to get certificate of in-principle approval for seven services covered under the Act. As per the amendment, the existing MSMEs undertaking expansion will be able to fast track completion of their expansion after grant of certificate of in-principle approval within five working days to existing units in Focal points and within 20 working days to existing units outside the Focal points.

APPROVAL FOR CREATING 810 POSTS FOR SUBORDINATE COURTS

The Cabinet also accorded approval for creating 810 posts for subordinate courts of the state including posts of 25 Additional District and Sessions Judges and 80 Civil Judges (Junior Division) cum Judicial Magistrates including posts of the supporting staff. This move will significantly help in setting up of new courts in the state thereby facilitating people by expeditiously disposing off pending court cases in the subordinate courts. The creation of these new posts will also create new employment opportunities for the youth besides strengthening the judiciary system in the state, added the spokesperson.

The Cabinet also gave green signal to the framing of the Punjab Water Resources, Research, “Group A” Services Rules, 2022. It may be recalled that keeping in view administrative needs of Punjab Water Resources department nine posts of Research Officers and 26 posts of Assistant Research Officers were sanctioned but there was no clarity about direct/ promotion quota ratio in the existing rules. This move will now help in meeting the administrative requirements of the department to serve the people of state efficaciously.

The Cabinet also approved negotiating and signing of the Building Fiscal and Institutional Resilience for Growth (BFAIR) project with Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India and World Bank (International Bank for reconstruction and Development). This project will help the state government in bringing key reforms across the state and city level in coming five years (2022-2027) covering five administrative departments as implementing agencies.

APPROVES TO AMEND PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE MARKETS ACT

The Cabinet also accorded approval to amend the Section 12 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act-1961 for making provision to appoint administrators by superseding existing nominated Market Committees. As per the decision, the State Government will appoint administrators in place of dissolved Market Committees, who shall exercise powers and perform duties of Market Committees for a period of one year or till the nomination of new Market Committees, whichever is earlier. Pertinently, at present there are 156 Market Committees in the state with nominated Chairman, Vice Chairman and Members but to implement the policies and programs of government expeditiously and efficaciously, it has became desirable to appoint administrators in these market committees by superseding the present incumbents.

NOD TO ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF DPI (COLLEGES), LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT AND TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

The Punjab Cabinet also approved Annual Administrative Reports of the DPI (Colleges) for the year 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, Language Department, Punjab for the year 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 besides that of Department of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums of Punjab for 2020-21.

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CABINET GIVES NOD FOR TABLING THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FINANCES OF THE STATE IN THE CURRENT SESSION OF THE VIDHAN SABHA

CLEARS TABLING OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR 2022-23 BEFORE THE HOUSE

GREEN SIGNAL TO AMEND PUNJAB FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT ACT, 2003

Chandigarh, June 24:The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave nod for tabling the White Paper on the Finances of the state in the house during the current session of the Vidhan Sabha.

Divulging the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that a decision to this effect was taken by the council of Ministers during its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat-I.

The spokesperson said that the ‘White Paper’ on state’s finances is an attempt to simplify the complex issues being faced by the Punjab government and clearly apprising the common man of the present situation inherited by the incumbent Government. This white paper primarily contains four chapters that bring out historic patterns and present status of financial indicators, debt position and financial health of the state PSUs. The White Paper will also comment upon the possible way forward for the resurgence of fiscal health of the state.

The Cabinet also cleared the tabling of the Budget estimates for the year 2022-23 in the ongoing budget session of the Vidhan Sabha. The budget estimates have been prepared meticulously after due consultation with all the stakeholders including common citizens and others who gave their suggestions through emails, letters and direct communication. The Budget proposals have incorporated all the relevant fiscal indicators such as Revenue Receipts, Capital Receipts, Revenue Expenditure, Capital Expenditure, Revenue Deficit, Fiscal Deficit and Outstanding debt.

The Cabinet also accorded green signal for amending Section 4 in sub section 2 for clause (a) of the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. This will help in availing the benefit of Normal Net Borrowing ceiling of 3.5% of the projected Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), extra borrowing ceiling equivalent to contribution under National Pension Scheme (NPS), carrying forward its unutilized borrowing out of the borrowing ceiling allowed for the previous years and availing 50 year interest free loan under scheme for special assistance to states for Capital Investment for 2022-23 during the current fiscal.

The Cabinet also cleared tabling CAG Audit Reports for the year 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, Performance Audit of Efficacy of Implementation of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act 1992 (April 2015- March 2020), Performance Audit of Direct Benefit Transfer (Cash Transfer) (April 2017 to July 2020), Annual Technical Inspection Report on Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies for period April 2016 to March 2019, Performance Audit of Outcomes of Higher Education in Punjab (April 2015 to March 2020) and Finance Accounts, Appropriation Accounts for year 2019-20 and 2020-21 of Punjab government before Punjab Vidhan Sabha in current session.

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CM LEADS PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA IN OBITUARY REFERENCES TO NOTED PERSONALITIES

Chandigarh, June 24:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Friday, led the Vidhan Sabha in paying tribute to eminent personalities, freedom fighters, political personalities and noted Punjab Singer, who had passed away since the last session of the Assembly.

On the first day of Budget session of 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the House paid respects to Former Ministers Hardipinder Singh Badal and Jathedar Tota Singh besides Formers MLAs Sukhdev Singh Sukhladhi and Shingara Ram Sahungra. The House also paid tribute to the Freedom Fighters Tara Singh, Swarn Singh, Crora Singh and Sukhraj Singh Sandhawalia, who played a pivotal role in emancipating the country from the clutches of British imperialism.

Meanwhile, the House also paid homage to mountaineer Gurcharan Singh Bhangu Arjun Awardee who was bestowed this prestigious award in 1965 for successfully climbing the highest peak of the World, Mount Everest and great Athlete Hari Chand Arjun Awardee who brought laurels for country in field of athletics.

The House also paid tributes to the famous Punjabi Singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu (Sidhu Moosewala) who had carved a niche for himself in the vast field of music and entertainment. House also paid homage to former Junior Vice President of SGPC and eminent Sikh personality Principal Surinder Singh.

A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of departed souls as a mark of respect during the obituary references.

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REMNANTS OF PINDA GANG IN POLICE NET, 13 SHOOTERS AMONG 19 HELD

— 11 weapons, 2 vehicles, and foreign currency of Rs 8 Lakh also seized

— 13 arrested shooters are history-sheeters, facing over 24 criminal cases in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Bathinda, says SSP Jalandhar Rural Swapan Sharma

CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, June 24:After a three-week-long operation, the Jalandhar Rural Police have successfully busted an extortion and arms smuggling racket affiliated to the Pinda Gang with the arrest of all the 13 gang members— all are trained shooters and six others involved in harboring and providing logistic support, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swapan Sharma here on Friday.

A close aide of Gangster Vicky Gounder, Palwinder Singh alias Pinda, whose role was also emerged in the Nabha Jail break, is said to be the Kingpin of the gang and was apparently handling the gang with the help of Paramjit alias Pamma, a native of Shahkot, Jalandhar and currently residing in Greece.

The 13 arrested shooters have been identified as Sunil Masih @ Jeuna, Ravinder @ Ravi, Pradeep Singh, Manjinder @ Shavi, and Sukhman Singh @ Subha, all of Lohian, Jalandhar; Sandeep @ Dilli, Major Singh, Aprail Singh @ Shera, Balwinder @ Guddha and Salinder Singh, all of Nakodar, Jalandhar; Satpal @ Satta of Makhu, Ferozepur; Devinderpal Singh @ Deepu and Satwant Singh @ Jagga of Shahkot, Jalandhar. All these arrested persons are history-sheeters and have been facing criminal cases of heinous crimes including murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and arms smuggling.

While, six other persons, who were arrested for harboring and providing logistic support, have been identified as Amarjeet alias Amar of Dharamkot, Balbir Masih, Erik and Badal, trio residents of Lohian, Harwinder Singh of Shahkot, and Bachittar Singh of Kapurthala.

The police have also recovered nine weapons including Seven .32 bore Pistols, Three .315 bore Pistols, one .315 bore gun, and one .12 bore gun, and two vehicles including Toyota Innova and Mahindra XUV 500, besides, foreign currency amounting to Rs 8 lakhs from their possession.

The SSP said that Paramjit alias Pamma used to finance the gang and used to send foreign currency via Hawala to Amarjit alias Amar, who further used to distribute among the gang members to carry out various criminal activities.

He said that the gang is active for the last six years and has been involved in organized extortion, armed highway robbery, land mafia and weapon smuggling from Madhya Pradesh.

“With the arrest of this group, the Police have also been able to crack three blind cases of including murder, extortion, and Highway Armed Robbery occurred in Jalandhar and Bathinda,” said Swapan Sharma, while adding that of total 19 arrested persons, at least 12 were wanted by the Police in eight criminal cases.

---------ECI continues to nudge Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)

for ensuring due regulatory compliances

111 more RUPPs deleted from the list and benefits under the Symbols Order (1968) withdrawn

The Election Commission of India issued an order dated May 25, 2022 to nudge the Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) for ensuring due compliances after Commission's meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar along
with Election Commissioner Shri Anup Chandra Pandey.

In the said order, Chief Electoral Officers were directed to initiate action for enforcing due compliances by RUPPs for relevant sections 29A and
29C of the RP Act 1951.

As a follow up to the 25th May, 2022 decision to delete the 87 non-existent RUPPs, in the second phase of the current exercise, the Commission today decided to delete 111 additional RUPPs from the register. These 111 RUPPs, whose address of communication,
was statutorily required as registration requirement under section 29A(4); any change in address was required to be communicated to the ECI under section 29A(9), which they have not complied with.

CEOs have reported that these RUPPs either have been found to be non-existent on verification or the letters issued by them, in pursuance to the Commission's order dated 25.05.2022 have returned undelivered by the postal department. Commission further decided
that any party aggrieved from this, may approach the concerned Chief Electoral Officer/ Election Commission within 30 days of the issue of this order along with all evidences of existence, other legal and regulatory compliances including year wise annual audited accounts, contribution report, expenditure report, updation of office bearers including authorised signatories for financial transactions (including

bank account). The segregated list of such RUPPs shall be sent to respective CEOs and CBDT for requisite action under extant legal framework.

Further, a reference has also been sent to the Department of Revenue for necessary legal & criminal action against 3 RUPPs involved in serious financial impropriety. A list of 1897, 2202 and 2351 RUPPs for
non-submission of Contribution Reports in FY 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively has also been shared for taking all consequential action as per RP Act 1951 read with the relevant provisions of the IT Act 1961. A list of 66 RUPPs which have claimed income tax exemption without submitting contribution reports as
mandated under section 29C of the Act has also been shared with the Revenue Department.

This exercise which commenced on May 25, 2022 will continue to be in operation and will be systematically followed up.

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Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab

Media Bulletin COVID-19

24^th June 2022 (05:00 PM)

Sr.No.	Description	From 1st April 2022	Till Date
1	Total Samples taken	815785	*19804657
2	Total No. of patients tested Positive	2816	761884
3	No. of patients discharged	2118	743368
4	Total Deaths reported	18	17764
5	Sample collected on the day		10494
6	Test conducted on the day		12220
7	Positive cases on the day		144
8	Number of active Cases		752
9	No. of Patients on oxygen support		17
10	Patients at critical care Level-3 facilities		5
11	Patients who are critical and on ventilator support		1
12	Healthcare Workers vaccinated with 1st dose on the day		1
13	Total Healthcare Workers vaccinated with 1st dose		218668
14	Frontline Workers vaccinated with 1st dose on the day		17
15	Total Frontline Workers vaccinated with 1st dose		1117474
16	Healthcare Workers vaccinated with 2nd dose on the day		24
17	Total Healthcare Workers vaccinated with 2nd dose		210595
18	Frontline Workers vaccinated with 2nd dose on the day		131
19	Total Frontline Workers vaccinated with 2nd dose		1013903
20	Above 45 Vaccinated with 1st dose on the day		826
21	Total Above 45 Vaccinated with 1st dose		8324784
22	Above 45 Vaccinated with 2nd dose on the day		9953
23	Total Above 45 Vaccinated with 2nd dose		7420667
24	18-44 years age group Vaccinated with 1st dose on the day		1961
25	Total 18-44 years age group Vaccinated with 1st dose		12587023
26	18-44 years age group Vaccinated with 2nd dose on the day		19302
27	Total 18-44 years age group Vaccinated with 2nd dose		10177627
28	15-17 years age group Vaccinated with 1st dose on the day		612
29	Total 15-17 years age group Vaccinated with 1st dose		1084474
30	15-17 years age group Vaccinated with 2nd dose on the day		3088
31	Total 15-17 years age group Vaccinated with 2nddose		751691
32	12-14 years age group Vaccinated with 1st dose on the day		1013
33	Total 12-14 years age group Vaccinated with 1st dose		593367
34	12-14 years age group Vaccinated with 2nddose on the day		2934
35	Total 12-14 years age group Vaccinated with 2nd dose		326524
36	Precautionary dose given on the day		5911
37	Total Precautionary dose given		722895
38	Total Vaccination 1st dose on the day		2805
39	Total Vaccination 2nd dose on the day		29410
40	Total Vaccination 1st and 2nd dose on the day		32215

*After reconciliation of data, 9 samples added.

On 24^th June 2022

1.	Number of New patients admitted in ICU	2 (Jalandhar-1, Ludhiana-1)
2.	Number of New patients put on ventilator support	Nil
3.	Number of New patients discharged	109 (Amritsar-3, Barnala-1, Bathinda-3, Faridkot-3, Ferozepur-1, FG. Sahib-5, Gurdaspur-1, Hoshiarpur-1, Jalandhar-2, Kapurthala-1, Ludhiana-31, Pathankot-3, Patiala-9, Ropar-5, Sangrur-2, SAS Nagar-32, Tarn Taran-6)
4.	Number of New deaths reported	1 (SAS Nagar-1)

Patients reported Positive on 24^th June 2022 - 144

District	Number of Cases	Positivity	Case Details	Remarks
SAS Nagar	39	5.11%	39 New Cases	763 Samples Tested
Ludhiana	25	0.54%	25 New Cases	4604 Samples Tested
Patiala	15	3.63%	15 New Cases	413 Samples Tested
Jalandhar	13	1.21%	13 New Cases	1078 Samples Tested
Amritsar	9	0.67%	9 New Cases	1351 Samples Tested
Bathinda	7	2.27%	7 New Cases	308 Samples Tested
Fazilka	7		7 New Cases	18 Samples Tested
Faridkot	4	2.25%	4 New Cases	178 Samples Tested
Gurdaspur	4	2.38%	4 New Cases	168 Samples Tested
Hoshiarpur	4	1.12%	4 New Cases	358 Samples Tested
Ferozepur	3	1.72%	3 New Cases	174 Samples Tested
FG Sahib	3	1.36%	3 New Cases	220 Samples Tested
Kapurthala	3	1.09%	3 New Cases	276 Samples Tested
Mansa	2	0.68%	2 New Cases	295 Samples Tested
Ropar	2	0.58%	2 New Cases	347 Samples Tested
Moga	1	0.37%	1 New Case	267 Samples Tested
Pathankot	1	0.97%	1 New Case	103 Samples Tested
Sangrur	1	0.36%	1 New Case	275 Samples Tested
Tarn Taran	1	0.17%	1 New Case	603 Samples Tested
Barnala	0	0.00%	Nil	118 Samples Tested
Malerkotla	0	0.00%	Nil	0 Samples Tested
Muktsar	0	0.00%	Nil	171 Samples Tested
SBS Nagar	0	0.00%	Nil	132 Samples Tested
On the Day Punjab	144	1.18%

Cumulative Cases: -

S. No.	District	Total Confirmed Cases		Total Cured		Total Deaths		Total Active Cases
		From 1st April 2022	Till Date	From 1st April 2022	Till Date	From 1st April 2022	Till Date
1	Ludhiana	456	110232	317	107806	9	2288	138
2	SAS Nagar	837	96526	619	95152	3	1151	223
3	Jalandhar	234	78504	177	76877	1	1579	48
4	Patiala	338	62369	273	60845	0	1457	67
5	Amritsar	147	59544	112	57820	1	1683	41
6	Bathinda	121	50989	70	49848	0	1088	53
7	Hoshiarpur	93	40933	87	39819	0	1096	18
8	Gurdaspur	42	26981	31	26104	1	865	12
9	Pathankot	82	24611	71	24104	0	495	12
10	Fazilka	54	23451	51	22890	0	545	16
11	Muktsar	20	22574	18	22028	0	539	7
12	Kapurthala	58	22093	51	21503	1	583	7
13	Ropar	61	17999	45	17528	0	455	16
14	Ferozepur	35	17934	24	17384	0	537	13
15	Mansa	15	17243	6	16842	1	393	8
16	Faridkot	75	16858	48	16489	0	338	31
17	Sangrur	14	14323	7	13580	0	735	8
18	SBS Nagar	29	13431	31	13019	0	409	3
19	FG Sahib	56	11890	34	11514	0	354	22
20	Moga	16	11004	12	10743	1	255	6
21	Tarn Taran	15	10912	12	10517	0	394	1
22	Barnala	9	7506	13	7156	0	349	1
23	Malerkotla	9	3977	9	3800	0	176	1
	Total	2816	761884	2118	743368	18	17764	752

*After reconciliation of data, 9 confirmed cases added in districts (Barnala-1 & FG. Sahib-8).

*After reconciliation of data, 3 case excluded from district (Fazilka-1, Pathankot-2).