At the very outset of its meeting, the Punjab Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today mourned the sad demise of former Governor of Kerala and ex Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir Mr Sukhdev Singh Kang who recently passed away after a prolonged illness. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Cabinet recalled the outstanding services rendered by him towards the Nation as Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and later on as Governor of Kerala. The Cabinet observed Justice Sukhdev Singh Kang as an illustrious personality and a fine human being besides a renowned legal luminary, jurist and above all an able administrator with the rare qualities of head and heart.The Cabinet also expressed profound grief and condolences over the sad and untimely demise of Ludhiana based Principal Correspondent of the Indian Express Ms. Amrita Chaudhary who passed away in a fatal road accident on Monday.Recalling the outstanding journalistic services rendered by Ms. Chaudary during her professional career spanning over 15 years, the Cabinet described her as a fearless and upright journalist who discharged her duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and professional commitment to pursue the ultimate goal of freedom of press in true spirit. The Cabinet observed that in the death of Ms. Chaudhary a void has been created in the journalistic fraternity which was hard to be filled.Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family of Ms. Chaudhary, the Cabinet approved an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased besides incurring the entire expenditure on her treatment by the state government. On the occasion a two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect in the memory of the departed souls thereby praying to Almighty to grant eternal peace to them and give strength to the bereaved family members to bear this huge loss.