*Zero tolerance against corruption: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announces strict action against corrupt employees*

*Corruption complaints lead to dismissal of Superintendent, major punishment for three others in Finance Department: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Punjab Govt will not spare anyone involved in corruption, regardless of rank: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Punjab Govt committed to transparent & clean administration, corruption will not be tolerated at any level: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH, 13th January 2026:Reaffirming the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said strict and exemplary action was being taken against corrupt officials in the Finance Department, underlining that no one would be spared, irrespective of rank or position.

Sharing details of the ongoing crackdown, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said complaints of corruption were received in mid-2022 against four employees posted in the Treasury and Accounts Branch (Head Office) and various District Treasury Offices. “The moment complaints were received, the department acted without delay. All four officials were immediately suspended and the matter was handed over to the Vigilance Bureau for a thorough and independent investigation,” he said.

Explaining the outcome of the departmental inquiry, the Finance Minister stated that after an exhaustive probe, decisive action was taken in December 2025. “One official holding the rank of Superintendent Grade-2 was dismissed from service, while the remaining three employees were awarded major punishments as per the service rules. This itself reflects the Punjab Government’s zero tolerance towards corruption,” he said.

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema further informed that legal proceedings were also taken to their logical conclusion. “During the course of investigation, FIR No. 1/2026 was registered by the Vigilance Bureau, Amritsar Range, against the dismissed Superintendent Grade-2. The accused was arrested on January 11, 2026, and after completion of his initial custody period, he was produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gurdaspur, on January 12, 2026. The Court has granted one-day police remand for further interrogation,” he said.

Taking the anti-corruption drive a step further, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that scrutiny of the bank accounts of the four accused employees uncovered suspicious financial transactions involving 22 other officers and employees. “To ensure complete fairness and transparency, the investigation into these transactions was conducted by a retired judge. Based on the findings of this impartial inquiry, departmental action has now been initiated against all 22 officials strictly as per rules,” he said.

Reiterating the government’s resolve, the Finance Minister said, “The Punjab Government is committed to providing a transparent, responsible, and clean administration to the people of the state. Wherever corruption comes to light, immediate and strict action will be taken, regardless of the official’s position.”

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asserted that these actions send out a clear message that illegal practices and misconduct would not be tolerated under any circumstances, and that the Bhagwant Mann Government’s priority remained building an honest and trustworthy administrative system for the people of Punjab.

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*BHAGWANT SINGH MANN LED GOVT EASES HOUSING BURDEN, EXTENDED AMNESTY POLICY 2025, OFFERS TIME TILL MARCH 31, 2026*

*DEFAULTING PLOT ALLOTTEES GET FRESH RELIEF WINDOW: HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN*

*DEFAULTING PLOT ALLOTTEES ACROSS PUNJAB CAN APPLY UNDER EXTENDED POLICY*

*ALLOTTEES WITH DUE INSTALMENTS OR PENDING CONSTRUCTION ELIGIBLE FOR SCHEME*

*PLOT HOLDERS WITH OUTSTANDING DUES GET ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY*

*Chandigarh, January 13-Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian on Tuesday said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has taken a major pro-people step by approving the extension of Amnesty Policy 2025, bringing substantial relief to defaulting plot allottees across Punjab.

The Cabinet Minister said the Cabinet has approved the extension of Amnesty Policy 2025 for allotted and auctioned plots under various schemes of the Housing and Urban Development Department. With this decision, defaulting allottees of Development Authorities will get a fresh opportunity to apply under the policy up to March 31, 2026. The eligible applicants will have to deposit the due amount within three months from the date of approval by the concerned Development Authority and applications must be submitted on or before the revised cutoff date.

Explaining the public oriented intent behind the decision, the Cabinet Minister said, "Mann Government is focused on resolving long pending housing related issues of common people. Several families and institutions were facing hardship due to accumulated dues and procedural delays and the policy extension provides them a practical chance to regularize their properties and move forward."

“This is a people friendly decision taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann", said the Cabinet Minister, adding that allottees who could not deposit instalments on time or complete construction within the stipulated period have been given a fair opportunity to settle their dues and secure additional time.

He urged all affected persons to avail the benefit of this scheme within the extended period.

Hardeep Singh Mundian further said that under Amnesty Policy 2025, defaulting allottees can deposit outstanding dues in lump sum along with scheme interest without penalty while non construction charges will be waived by 50 percent. In case of Institutional Sites, Hospital Sites and Industrial Plots allotted in IT City SAS Nagar or other schemes of Development Authorities, extension fee will be charged at 2.5 percent of the allotment or auction price and a three year period will be allowed to fulfil allotment conditions including construction. The scheme is applicable to those who defaulted on instalments due after December 31, 2013 or failed to complete construction within the prescribed time.

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*PUNJAB ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF INTERNATIONAL PUNJABI LANGUAGE OLYMPIAD*

*• Punjab Govt’s efforts to promote Punjabi Language pays off; Over 2.25 lakh students participated in Olympiad across the globe, says Harjot Bains*

*• EM Harjot Singh Bains hails mega event as a testament to Mann Govt's mother-tongue promotion policies*

Chandigarh, January 13:The results of the highly successful Third International Punjabi Language Olympiad-2025, organised by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), were declared today.

In the Class 3rd-5th international category, Niamat Kaur Brar topped, followed by Ahil Singh and Harseerat Kaur, all from Oslo, Norway. Simrit Kaur secured the top spot in the Class 6th-8th international category, with Amrit Kaur Virdi and Navjot Singh Matharu finishing second and third, respectively trio from Nairobi, Kenya. Parmeet Singh Gurm from Oslo topped the Class 9th-12th international category.

In the Punjab category, Reenat Mahal from Amritsar topped Class 3rd-5th, followed by Avneet Kaur from Moga and Sangampreet Kaur from Faridkot. Karajneet Kaur from Patiala won Class 6th-8th, with Jasmine Roopra from Faridkot and Anisha Kumari from Roopnagar securing second and third spot, respectively. Inderjeet Singh from Moga topped Class 9th-12th, followed by Simranjot Kaur from Fatehgarh Sahib and Navroop Kaur from Gurdaspur.

In the other states category, Parneet Kaur Ahuja from Delhi topped Class 3rd-5th, followed by Khushnoor Kaur from Rajasthan and Jasmeen Kaur from Uttar Pradesh. Daksha from Haryana won Class 6th-8th, with Gurnoor Singh and Navneet Uniyal from Chandigarh securing second and third spot, respectively. Mantej Singh Virk from Chandigarh topped Class 9th-12th, followed by Vanshdeep Singh from Haryana and Ekansh Singh from Chandigarh.

Congratulating the winners and participants of the Olympiad, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains lauded the PSEB for making the 3rd Olympiad a huge success with participation jumping many fold from mere 8000 to over 2.25 lakh students this year as compared to previous Olympiad. This overwhelming response reflects the public's trust in CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s mother-tongue friendly policies, he added.

"The Olympiad was not merely a competition but a powerful movement to instill pride, linguistic confidence and strengthen cultural identity associated with our mother tongue among students," said the Education Minister, while adding that such initiatives play a crucial role in fostering cultural pride and self-confidence in the youth.

Conducted under the guidance of Minister Bains, the Olympiad saw massive online registration from August 18 to October 31, 2025. Students from government, aided, private, and CBSE schools, from Class 3 to 12, participated with immense enthusiasm. The event also extended participation to students from other Indian states and NRI students abroad, reinforcing Punjabi's global connect.

Meanwhile, PSEB Chairman Dr. Amarpal Singh highlighted the Olympiad's transparent process, using Face Recognition Technology across three online stages. From 2,25,276 registrations, 20,327 students made it to the second stage, 4,009 to the finals, and 3,748 appeared for the final written exam on December 23, 2025.

Dr. Amarpal Singh further informed that the first prize winner will receive Rs. 11,000, the second prize winner Rs. 7,100 and the next eight rank holders will get Rs. 5,100 each, amounting to a total prize amount of Rs. 3,30,000. Schools with the highest registrations and participation will also be honoured.

He reaffirmed that the Punjab School Education Board will continue to undertake such public-welfare and student-centric activities on an even larger scale in the future, aligning with the vision of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann's government to connect new generations with their linguistic and cultural roots.

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MLA Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal from Surrey North, Canada today visited Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh E. T. O. at his office in Jandiala Guru.

S. Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal belongs to Village Sathiala. During this meeting, many important aspects were discussed between the Cabinet Minister and Mr. Dhaliwal.

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*PLANNED URBAN GROWTH GETS BOOST AS PRTPD BOARD CLEARS KEY MASTER PLANS*

*DERA BABA NANAK, NANGAL, BARNALA AND NABHA MASTER PLANS APPROVED*

*Chandigarh, January 13:*In an endeavour to ensure planned development of the State, a high-level meeting of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development (PRTPD) Board was today held here at Punjab Bhawan, under the Chairmanship of Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian, Vice Chairman, PRTPD Board-cum-Minister In-Charge, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Punjab.

The meeting was attended by Sh. Sanjeev Arora, Minister In-Charge, Department of Local Government, Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion and Power, while Sh. Harbhajan Singh, Minister In-Charge, Public Works Department and other officers joined the deliberations through virtual mode. The Board took up key agendas aimed at strengthening orderly urbanisation and infrastructure-led growth across the State.

During the meeting, the PRTPD Board accorded approval to the new Master Plans of Dera Baba Nanak, Nangal, Barnala and Nabha. The approvals will ensure systematic development of these regions and open avenues for fresh investment through upcoming industrial hubs and residential townships, thereby creating employment opportunities and improving civic amenities.

The Board also approved other important agendas pertaining to amendments in various Master Plans and Unified Zoning Regulations, particularly with regard to the no-construction zone along scheduled roads, with a view to ensuring safety, planned road expansion and sustainable urban development.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Sh. KAP Sinha, Principal Housing and Urban Development Secretary Sh. Vikas Garg, Rural Development and Panchayats Secretary Sh. Ajit Bala Ji Joshi, Local Government Secretary Sh. Manjit Singh Brar, Revenue Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Smt. Sonali Giri and other senior officers of the member departments.