Punjab cabinet approves recruitment of 1,800 constables, 300 sub-inspectors every year

The Punjab cabinet led by chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday approved the recruitment of 8,400 cops, including 1,200 sub-inspectors and 7,200 constables in the coming four years.

CHANDIGARH The Punjab cabinet led by chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday approved the recruitment of 8,400 cops, including 1,200 sub-inspectors and 7,200 constables in the coming four years.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by the chief minister. (Representational photo)

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by the chief minister.

According to a spokesperson of the chief minister’s office, the cabinet has approved the recruitment of 1,800 constables and 300 sub-inspectors every year for the coming four years to overcome the scarcity of employees in wake of their superannuation in the next few years.

“So, 2,100 posts will be created every year, and around 2.50 lakh candidates are expected to apply for these posts. All the aspirants will get ample time to get involved in academics and in improving their physique for clearing the tests,” the spokesperson said, adding, “This will channelize youth energy in a positive direction and help them in weaning away from the drug menace.”

The spokesperson added that a fixed schedule will be adopted for the advertisement, conduct and declaration of results for these exams every year.

“As per this schedule, the advertisement for the exam will be issued in January, the written exam will be conducted in the month of May-June, physical tests will be held in September, and results will be announced in November every year,” he added.

Nod to fill 710 posts of patwaris

The cabinet also gave a green signal to fill up the 710 vacant posts of patwaris in the revenue department. This will help in maintaining and updating the new record as well as maintaining old revenue records to facilitate the general public in availing of these services in a time-bound manner.

In a bid to streamline the activities of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the cabinet also approved the department of higher education and languages to hire 203 employees by outsourcing mode through PESCO for NCC HQs, units and centres. “This will help in immediately and urgently addressing the issue of acute shortage of manpower in the NCC units till regular recruitment. It will further facilitate the smooth running of the NCC units and will result in higher enrolment of students as NCC cadets,” the spokesperson said.

New crusher policy okayed

The cabinet also gave nod to amend the new crusher policy to get rid of the double charging of the environment management fund (EMF).

As per the already notified new Crusher Policy, it is mandatory to charge EMF @ ₹1 per cubic feet, which the crusher owners have to submit along with their returns. The EMF is ought to be charged both from the screening as well as crushing units on the same output as per the new policy.

But the input cost of the final product/material has increased substantially, and the sale price of the finished product is not economically viable at the rates fixed by the government due to the increase in input cost. It amounts to charging the material twice as the output of the screening plants is consumed by the other crushers also. “So in the larger public interest it has been decided that if upon verification it is found that the EMF amount has already been paid by the screening plant for the quantity that has not been sold in the open market or to the end users directly, the EMF amount will be refunded to the said screening plant unit within a period of two months,” he said.

The cabinet also extended the relaxation for crusher units to pay their security deposit in three instalments up to a maximum time period of six months.

The cabinet also gave its approval to amend Section 75 of the North India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, with Section 36 for recovery of Canal/River Water charges for non-irrigation use. With this decision, the state government will generate ₹186 cr per annum.

Cabinet rank to AAP chief whip

The government also approved cabinet status, pay and perks equal to the cabinet ministers to chief whip, the position presently being held by Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur.

For this, the cabinet approved the enactment of “The salaries and allowances of the chief whip in Punjab Legislative Assembly Act-2022”.

According to a government spokesperson, “The chief whip of a party plays a crucial role in parliamentary democracy of India and ensures smooth and efficient functioning of business of the house, so the government will provide rank, salary, allowance and facilities equivalent to the cabinet minister of the state government to the chief whip of the majority party.”