The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday took a series of important decisions, including approval to an Ordinance for the constitution of the Punjab State Higher Education Council, in line with the requirements of the Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan.The Council would comprise Chief Minister Punjab as its Chairman besides Higher Education Minister as Vice Chairman and Administrative Secretary, Higher Education as its Member Secretary. The Council will also have on board Vice Chancellors of State Universities, Principals of Government Colleges and eminent personalities from the fields of Arts, Science, Technology, Culture and Industry who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.The Council would aim to ensure planned and coordinated development of Higher Education in the State, besides ensuring quality in the institutions of Higher Education, facilitating sharing of resources between universities and colleges especially for research purposes, academic and governance reforms, as well as monitoring and evaluation of such educational institutions.
Ex-gratia enhanced for MLAs
In another decision, the Cabinet has enhanced ex-gratia grant of Members of Punjab Legislative Assembly from existing Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh by amending section 10-A (1) of "The Punjab State Legislature Members (Pension and Medical Facilities Regulation) Rules, 1984. In case of death of person serving as a Member of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, an ex-gratia grant of Rs. 5 lakh would be provided to the members of his family, as per the decision of the Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Naib Tehsildar (B) Service Rules approved
The Cabinet has also approved Punjab Naib Tehsildar (Group B) Service Rules 2018, as the post of Naib Tehsildar has now fallen into Group B after revision of pay scales w.e.f January 1, 2006. Following this, the appointing authority and appellate authority in case of Naib Tehsildars would now be Financial Commissioner Revenue and Revenue Minister respectively.This decision also paves the way for bringing the process of filling of posts of Naib Tehsildars under direct quota. Earlier, the post of Naib Tehsildar as per Punjab Naib Tehsildar (Class III) service Rules, 1984 was a Class III post, which has now fallen in Group B post, following the re-classification of posts due to pay revision.
Annual reports get nod
According to the spokesperson, the Cabinet has also accorded approval to the annual reports and separate audit reports for the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 of the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board. The Cabinet also gave permission for presenting these reports before the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in accordance with law. Likewise, the Cabinet has also approved the annual administrative report of the Defence Services Welfare Department for the year 2015-16.