The Punjab Cabinet today recommended the dissolution of 13th State Legislative Assembly to the Governor of Punjab thus paving a way for the constitution of the 14th Legislative Assembly after the declaration of the election results on March 6th, 2012.
A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the Cabinet Chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal this morning.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that the Cabinet recommended the dissolution of the State Assembly under Section 15 sub section 2 of the People’s Representation Act, 1951. It may be recalled that Governor is competent to dissolve the state assembly under section 2 (b) of Article 174 of the constitution of India.
The Cabinet placed on record its “profound gratitude” to the People of Punjab, government employees and official machinery of the state besides NGOs and other social organizations for their whole hearted cooperation to the government in the process of unprecedented development of the state between 2007-2012. The Cabinet also thanked the people for helping in the preservation of atmosphere of complete peace and communal harmony in the state during the past five years.
The Cabinet disagreed with the proposed draft water policy circulated by the Central government to the extent it impinges upon rights of the state government. The Cabinet also rejected the proposal of the Union government to set up National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as the same was against the concept of federalism and encroaches upon the rights of the state governments.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to the additional Government of Punjab (GoP) Guarantee worth Rs 1500 crore to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) during 2011-2012.
The Cabinet also approved the recommendations of the State Cultural Affairs Department for the creation of Immersive Experience to be executed by Gurgaon based Tricolor India Schauspiel Private Limited at historic Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial at Chapar Chiri in district SAS Nagar (Mohali).
The Cabinet allowed the Cultural Affairs department to utilize Rs.10 crore out of Rs.50 crore Corpus for the repayment of installments of the Principal Amount against the loan taken for the completion of World Class Virasat-e-Khalsa Heritage Complex at Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The Cabinet also approved the annual administrative report of the State Irrigation Department for 2008-2009.