With a view to providing financial assistance to the family members of the deceased advocates, the Punjab Cabinet today approved the amendment to the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2002.A decision to this effect was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.Disclosing this here a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the necessary amendments would be made in section 4 sub section 3 (a) (b) (g), section 4 sub section 5, schedule to section 17 and section 20 (i) for the enhancement of the value of stamp tickets affixed on theVakalatnama from Rs. 8 to Rs. 15. The amount thus collected would be utilized to provide financial help to the families of the deceased advocates. The Cabinet gave permission to bring the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund (Thrid Amendment) Bill, 2014 by converting the already issued ordinance for its enactment in the ensuing Budget Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
The cabinet also gave go ahead to create a post of Vice-Chairman in the State Women Commission by amending the Punjab State Women Commission Act, 2001. This move would help the Commission to discharge its functions in an effective and result oriented manner to safeguard the rights of women on one hand and ensure their empowerment on the other.Conceding the long pending demand of the employees of the state government, the Cabinet also decided to accord ex-post facto sanction to enhance the commutation of pension from 20 to 30%. This decision would also be applicable in case of the pensioners who retired after April 01, 2013 and entitled for additional commutation on enhanced rates.The Cabinet also gave approval to lay the reports of Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) related to the Punjab government for the year 2012-13 on the table in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during the forthcoming Budget Session.Likewise, the Cabinet also considered the budgetary proposals for 2014-15 and accorded its approval to the same.