Batala: Acting upon the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s recommendations, Punjab Government on Thursday decided to regulate fees in private health sciences universities to check the undue burden caused on students as a result of exorbitant charges levied by such institutions.
The State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, gave approval to amend the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fee and Making of Reservation) Act 2006 by promulgating an Ordinance.
A Cabinet Sub Committee, comprising the then Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and Higher and Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, had made the recommendation in the interest of the students.
The Cabinet approved amendment in 2006 Act to bring private health sciences universities under its purview. With this amendment, the fee fixed by the State Government would be applicable to private universities also.
Pertinently, the Act of 2006 basically stipulates that the Government can prescribe a fee structure for private medical institution running health science course and distribute their seats between the Management and Government Quota. As per the Act, the fee for medical colleges and other health institution is fixed by the state government from time to time.
SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS
· A special Punjab Vidhan Sabha session would be convened for a day on November 6 for commemoration of the historic 550th prakash purb of Guru Nanak Dev. The State Cabinet has approved recommending to the Governor summoning of the ninth session of the House under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution of India.
· Approving the Punjab Police (Appointment of Chairperson and Members of Complaints Authorities), Rules, 2019, the Cabinet paved the way for making appointments in State Police Complaints Authority and Divisional Police Complaints Authorities under ‘The Punjab Police Act, 2007’ making an officer of the rank either of Chief Secretary or secretary to Central Government or the DGP eligible to be appointed as chairperson of the State Police Complaints Authority.
· Cabinet okayed the establishment of ‘Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University’ at Patiala for which a Bill would be presented in the next session of the Vidhan Sabha for enactment of “Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Act 2019”.
· Government has hiked its monthly matching contribution for employees under the New Pension Scheme from 10 to 14 percent of basic pay-plus-dearness allowance (DA), in line with the Centre’s decision. In another pro-employee initiative, the Cabinet also approved benefit of death-cum-retirement gratuity to all state government employees recruited on or after January 1, 2004, and covered under the New Pension Scheme.
· Approves phase-wise recruitment of 994 new posts of faculty, paramedical staff and other posts for setting up of Government Medical College at Mohali with intake of 100 seats for MBBS course
· Guidelines approved for incentives to closed industrial units aimed at settling state’s liability of sanctioned capital investment incentive under various industrial policies
· Cabinet gave in-principle approval for a Four-Year Strategic Action Plan (4SAP)-2019 to 2023, to set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the departments of Social Security and Child Development and Women Welfare, Transport, Industry and Commerce and Cooperation.
· The action plan will also set key performance parameters (KPPs) for Government officials to enable integration of the departments into state’s development process. It was also decided to approve their integration into the State Budgetary process.
· Setting the stage for formalities of extradition to be completed soon, the Cabinet has approved extradition from United Kingdom of Hoshiarpur-resident Kuljinder Kaur Thandi, wanted under various sections of the IPC including 201, 302, 404, 406, 420, 120-B.
