In a pragmatic move towards prudent fiscal management, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday okayed the reduction in number of non-official members of the SC Commission from 10 to three, reversing a decision taken by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government a few months before the last Assembly elections.The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, accepted a proposal of the Department of Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes & Minorities to amend Section 3 (2) (b) of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Act, 2004.
The necessary legislation will be presented before the House in the Budget Session, according to an official spokesperson, who disclosed that the Cabinet had also agreed to a proposal to amend section 4 (1) of the Act, stipulating that no person above the age of 70 years shall be eligible for appointment as Chairperson and Non-Official members, and the Chairperson and Non-Officials Members, once appointed, shall get a fixed term of three years.Notably, the SAD-BJP alliance government amended the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Act, 2004 on November 15, 2016, to enhance the strength of non-official members in the Commission from three to ten members with the provision to appoint a senior vice chairman and vice chairman from among the non-official members to adjust their political aspirants. This had resulted in additional financial burden on the State Government.