Punjab Cabinet extends age limit for recruitment to Group-D positions
PTC Web Desk: At a meeting held on Friday at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence in Chandigarh, the Punjab Cabinet announced several key decisions. One of the major decisions made during the meeting was the extension of the age limit for recruitment to Group-D positions in Punjab. Earlier, candidates in the 18-35 age group were eligible to apply for these posts. However, the Cabinet has now increased the upper age limit to 37 years, allowing more candidates to apply for these jobs.
Additionally, the Punjab Government has made a crucial move to address the issue of poor-quality seeds in the state. Under the amended Seed Act, severe penalties will be imposed on those involved in the marketing of substandard seeds. First-time offenders could face imprisonment of up to two years and fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Repeat offenders will face harsher penalties, with prison sentences of two to three years and fines of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
In a move to further streamline the administration, the Punjab Government has also approved the extension of the service period for employees transferred from the Rural Development Department to the Animal Husbandry Department. Their tenure has now been extended for another year, allowing them to serve until March 31, 2026.
Another major policy update is related to the Punjab VAT (Value Added Tax) Tribunal. The Cabinet has decided to bring the salaries of the Chairman and members of the Punjab VAT Tribunal in line with the pay scales followed by the Punjab Government, rather than those of High Court judges. This decision is expected to ease the financial burden on the state treasury, reducing expenses related to salaries, rent allowances, and other benefits.
In another landmark decision, the Punjab Government has resolved a long-standing issue related to the “Integrated Rural Development Programme” under the One-Time Settlement Scheme. This scheme had been stalled for years, with cases pending since the Punjab State Act of 1935. The government has now forgiven Rs 97 crore worth of loans, benefiting 1,054 beneficiaries. Of this, Rs 11.94 crore will be returned to the state’s coffers.
The Punjab Government has also revealed plans to introduce a new Seed Bill, aimed at regulating seed quality more stringently. This will amend the Seed Act of 1966 and introduce harsher penalties for companies and dealers involved in supplying poor-quality seeds. The new legislation is set to be introduced in 2025, aiming to address the ongoing issues of substandard seed distribution in the state.
- PTC NEWS
