*Bhagwant Mann Govt Takes Historic Step To Fast-Track Drug Cases; 35 Exclusive Special NDPS Courts To Be Set Up*

*Punjab Cabinet Under Leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Approves Exclusive Special NDPS Courts To Ensure Speedy Trials In Drug Cases*

*385 Posts, Including 35 Additional District And Sessions Judges, Approved*

*52,577 NDPS Cases Pending In Punjab; Dedicated Courts To Help Clear Backlog & Reduce 8-Year Disposal Time*

CHANDIGARH; 31st October 2026:The Punjab Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday approved the establishment of 35 Exclusive Special NDPS (National Drugs Psychotropic Substances) Courts across the state to ensure speedy disposal of drug-related cases, reduce judicial pendency and strengthen the ongoing fight against the drug menace.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Disclosing this, the Chief Minister’s Office stated, “Punjab is facing a serious challenge of drug trafficking and abuse, with approximately 20,000 NDPS cases registered and around 27,000 arrests made annually in the state. Of these, approximately 12,000 cases are tried by Sessions Courts, while only around 5,700 cases are disposed of annually, resulting in 52,577 pending cases as on August 31, 2026. Consequently, the average disposal time of such cases is approximately eight years.”

The Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had assessed the requirement for additional Exclusive Special NDPS Courts to clear the backlog over the next five to seven years. Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the establishment of 35 such courts in the first phase.

Along with this, 385 posts have been approved, comprising 35 Additional District and Sessions Judges, 315 supporting staff members and 35 Assistant District Attorneys. An estimated expenditure of approximately ₹75 crore, including infrastructure costs, has also been sanctioned.

The existing designated courts will continue functioning until the new Exclusive Special NDPS Courts become fully operational.

These dedicated courts will facilitate speedy disposal of NDPS cases, reduce pendency and delays, and ensure better utilisation of government witnesses. The initiative is expected to strengthen the judicial mechanism against drug-related offences and further the Punjab Government’s efforts to break the backbone of the drug menace in the state.

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*Under Leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Cabinet Gives Major Relief to Patwaris & Kanungos; Restores District-Level Cadre to Ensure Administrative Efficiency*

*New Grain Market to Come Up at Lehragaga; Bhagwant Mann Cabinet Approves Transfer of 217 Kanals of Land to Punjab Mandi Board*

*Under Leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Cabinet Approves Three Labour Code Rules to Strengthen Workers’ Rights & Social Security*

*Mohali to Get Wet Waste-Based CBG Project; Move to Promote Clean & Green Urban Environment*

CHANDIGARH; 31st October 2026:The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday took a series of significant decisions aimed at strengthening administrative efficiency, improving agricultural infrastructure, safeguarding workers’ welfare and promoting a cleaner urban environment. The Council of Ministers, in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, approved amendments to the service rules governing Revenue Patwaris and Kanungos, paving the way for restoration of their district-level cadre. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of a new grain market at Lehragaga, three sets of labour-related rules and a wet waste-based Compressed Biogas (CBG) project for the Mohali cluster.

*Restoration of District-Level Cadre of Patwaris and Kanungos*

The Cabinet gave its approval to the Punjab Revenue Patwaris (Group C) Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026 and the Punjab Revenue Kanungos (Group C) Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026.

In a statement, the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Department of Revenue had framed the Punjab Revenue Patwaris (Group C) Service Rules, 2023, reducing the training period of Patwaris from one-and-a-half years to one year while retaining the district-level cadre structure and the District Collector as the appointing authority.

However, through an amendment notified on March 14, 2024, the appointing authority was changed from the District Collector to the Director of Land Records, Punjab.

Subsequently, an exercise was undertaken to prepare a common state-wide seniority list by merging district-level seniority lists. This exercise gave rise to several legal challenges and administrative anomalies, particularly concerning Patwaris who had opted for voluntary inter-district transfers on the explicit condition of forfeiting their seniority. The state-wide seniority list negated the effect of such forfeiture, creating complications in cadre management.

To overcome these anomalies, remove the administrative deadlock and ensure greater efficiency in the functioning of the Revenue Department, the Cabinet decided to restore the district-level cadre of Patwaris as an administrative reform measure.

Under the amended rules, the District Collector will be the appointing authority for Patwaris and Kanungos at the district level, while their seniority lists will also be maintained by the respective District Collectors. The amendments bring the framework in line with the earlier Punjab Revenue Patwaris (Group C) Service Rules, 2023 and Punjab Kanungos (Class III) Service Rules, 1994.

*Paves Way for Establishment of New Grain Market at Lehragaga*

In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved the transfer of 217 Kanals and 14 Marlas of government-owned land situated at Village Khandebad, Tehsil Lehragaga, District Sangrur, from the Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management to the Punjab Mandi Board for establishing a new grain market.

The land will be transferred at the Collector Rate of ₹15 lakh per acre, involving a total consideration of ₹4.08 crore.

The proposed grain market is expected to provide better marketing infrastructure and substantial convenience to farmers and the common people of the region.

*Approves Three Labour Code Rules*

The Cabinet also approved three important sets of rules aimed at strengthening the implementation of labour welfare and social security provisions in Punjab.

These include the Code on Wages (Punjab) Rules, 2026, framed under the Code on Wages, 2019; the Punjab Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026, framed under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; and the Punjab Social Security Rules, 2026, framed under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The approvals will provide the requisite state-level regulatory framework for implementing these labour codes in Punjab.

*Mohali to Get Wet Waste-Based Compressed Biogas Project*

The Cabinet also approved the award of the Wet Waste-Based Compressed Biogas (CBG) Project for the Mohali Cluster to HPCL Renewable and Green Energy Limited (HPRGE) on a nomination basis.

The project will be established at Village Samgauli, Dera Bassi, under the Municipal Corporation S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali).

The initiative is aimed at ensuring efficient scientific management of wet waste generated in the city while reducing the burden of waste disposal. It will also contribute towards developing a cleaner, greener and pollution-free urban environment, thereby improving the overall quality of life of residents.

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*Buddha Nullah’s Pollution To Be Tackled With Permanent Solution, No Compromise On People’s Right To Clean Water & Healthy Environment: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*High-Level Committee Constituted Under MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Asked To Submit Comprehensive Report Within 15 Days: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*Our Govt Determined To Restore Buddha Nullah’s Pristine Glory, All Stakeholders To Work Together To Eliminate Pollution: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

CHANDIGARH; 31st October 2026:Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday asserted that his government will not allow public health and the environment to be held hostage to pollution, declaring that finding a permanent solution to the long-pending problem of Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana is among the government’s top priorities. Announcing a special high-level committee under the leadership of environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, the Chief Minister directed it to submit a comprehensive report within 15 days to ensure concrete and time-bound action to restore the historic water body.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review the prevailing situation of Buddha Nullah, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the government is determined to free this historic water body from pollution and restore its pristine glory. He said, “The people of Punjab have every right to clean water and a pollution-free environment. These are not privileges but fundamental rights of every citizen, and no compromise will be made on them. The government will not allow the health of people and the environment to be held hostage to pollution.”

Taking a decisive step towards resolving the long-standing issue, the Chief Minister announced the constitution of a special high-level committee comprising environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Secretary Local Government, representatives of the Industries Department, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Ludhiana Police, two representatives of the Dairy Complex and other concerned stakeholders.

Directing the committee to submit its comprehensive report within 15 days, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The problem of Buddha Nullah cannot be resolved through temporary measures or superficial interventions. It requires a comprehensive, coordinated and permanent solution backed by strong political will. The committee must hold detailed consultations with local residents, industrialists, representatives of the dairy sector and administrative officials to examine every aspect of the problem and recommend concrete measures.”

The Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab cannot be made to pay the price for pollution caused by irresponsible practices. He said that the contamination of Buddha Nullah has serious implications for public health and the environment, making its restoration an urgent priority for Ludhiana and surrounding areas.

Emphasising the government’s commitment to addressing the issue in a time-bound manner, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Government departments, industrial units and all other stakeholders must work together to ensure that untreated waste and pollution do not enter our water bodies. The committee must go beyond merely identifying the problems and recommend practical, implementable and time-bound measures that can deliver a lasting solution.”

Reiterating his government’s commitment to transforming Punjab into a clean, green and healthy state, the Chief Minister said that protecting water resources is not merely the responsibility of the government but a collective obligation towards future generations.

During the meeting, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann held detailed discussions with senior administrative officers regarding the present condition of Buddha Nullah and the measures required to eliminate pollution and restore the water body.

Rajya Sabha MP Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, CMD Powercom Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary Water Resources Krishan Kumar, Secretary Environment and Science and Technology K.K. Yadav, Secretary Local Government Ghanshyam Thori, Secretary Agriculture Arshdeep Singh Thind, Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Himanshu Jain, Commissioner of Police Ludhiana Swapan Sharma and other senior officials were also present.