Punjab Assembly to elect deputy speaker on June 13

A special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly will be held on June 13 for the election of the deputy speaker.

The decision was taken by the state cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal here today.

The post of deputy speaker fell vacant after former deputy speaker Satpal Gosian became a cabinet minster.

The cabinet also gave go ahead to the scheme of Assured Career Progression in consonance with the recommendations of the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission, an official spokesperson said.

It also gave approval for creation of 100 posts of Excise and Taxation Inspectors and to regularise the services of Education Service Providers which would entail an additional expenditure of Rs5 crore annually on the state exchequer.

The cabinet also approved to notify the Punjab State Medical Tourism Policy 2011 for encouraging establishment of new or expanding existing medical facilities in the state.

To check irregularities in mining process, the system of awarding contracts through e-auction had been introduced.

If any bidder misbehaves during course of e-auction his bid would be rejected and the earnest money would be forfeited and Director of Industries may debar him from participating in future auctions for five years.

The cabinet gave extension to fast track courts and its staff for five years upto March 31, 2016 as its tenure was slated to expire on June 30 this year. It also approved to amend the land purchase policy of the state government to acquire land for public purposes.