Days after Punjab’s all political parties, barring the BJP, unanimously decided to press upon the Centre to withdraw its decision to extend BSF’s jurisdiction in Punjab besides repealing the controversial farm laws, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to convene the Vidhan Sabha’s special session on November 8.
As per the Cabinet decision, the 16th special session of 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha has been convened on November 8, 2021, “to oppose Centre's notification extending the jurisdiction of BSF from 15 kms to 50 kms along the international border besides repealing the three ‘black’ farm laws”.
Notably, all major political parties, except the BJP, attended the meeting convened by the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to discuss the two significant issues, where it was unanimously decided to convene a special session of Vidhan Sabha.
The decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting held at Ludhiana Circuit House — for the first time ever outside the state capital.
ANTI-RED TAPE RULES APPROVED
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also gave approval to the Punjab Anti Red Tape Rules, 2021, framed by the Governance Reforms and Public Grievances Department to carry out the purposes of Punjab Anti Red Tape Act, 2021, which was notified and came into effect on April 6, 2021.
The Act shall be applicable to all departments and their attached or subordinate offices including all units of local self-government, boards, corporations, public sector enterprises, societies, trusts, commissions or autonomous bodies established or constituted by an Act of the State Legislature or whose expenditure is met from the Consolidated Fund of the State.
It shall also ensure that all aforesaid entities would mandatorily simplify their process to reduce the burden of compliances by at least 50 percent within a period of six months of the commencement of this Act. Likewise, the Act would also provide for disciplinary as well as financial penalties against erring official for violations committed under this Act.
FAST TRACK COMPLETION OF MSME’s EXPANSION
To promote ease of doing business in the State, the Cabinet also gave a go ahead to the amendments in Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020, for inclusion of expansion by existing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the purview of the Act. The amendment in the Act provides an enabling eco-system for self-declaration, exemptions, speedier approvals, and inspections for existing MSMEs to expand and operate in the State.
All the existing enterprises undertaking expansion shall be eligible to get Certificate of in-principle approval for seven services covered under the Act, to be issued within five working days to existing units in Focal Points and within 20 working days to existing units outside Focal Points.
