The Punjab Council of Ministers today strongly condemned the decision of the Government of India (GoI) to exclude the Jats and Jat Sikhs of Punjab from the benefits of reservation extended to these communities in other states. A resolution to this effect was passed by the Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that in a resolution, the Council of Ministers described the decision of the Centre as “totally unjustified and step motherly" and another painful link in the long series of injustice and discrimination against the state.
The Cabinet decided to declare Jats and Jat Sikhs of Punjab as"backward classes."The Cabinet also decided that economically weaker persons from among the general categories would also be extended the benefits of reservation. These reservations would be in addition to the reservations already in
place and would not affect the existing quota of section.The Cabinet also decided to set up a commission to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Cabinet's decisions.The Cabinet also approved supplementary grants worth Rs 5101.68 crore for the year 2013-14 to be presented before the state assembly during the ongoing session. The Cabinet also cleared the proposal for seeking Vote on Account for four months from April 1 to July 31, 2014 for Rs 25292.96 crore.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also approved to fill 1230 vacant post of Patwaris, of which 600 would be recruited in the current year and the remaining within next two years. The Cabinet also decided to enhance the promotion quota from Patwari to Kanugos from existing 85% to 100%.Likewise, the Cabinet also gave nod to earmark three percent quota for the promotion of assistants working in the offices of Deputy Commissioners to Naib Tehsildars by reducing the direct recruitment quota from current 50% to 47%. The Cabinet also okayed to create 20 new posts of Tehsildars to ensure prompt deliverance of better services to the people at the district headquarters in registration offices.