M A I N   N E W S

Punjab okays equal tenancy rights for daughters
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17
The Punjab Cabinet today decided to give equal tenancy rights to adult daughters by approving amendments in the Punjab Security of land Tenure Act, 1953 and Pepsu Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1955.

Following the approval given by the Cabinet, adult daughters would now also be entitled for permissible area as it is allowed to adult sons of a landowner under the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972. Till now, upon the death of a tenant, only male descendents, the mother or widow were entitled to tenancy rights.

The Cabinet held that this discrimination needed to be done away with. So, if a tenant does not leave behind any male lineal descendents, a woman descendent would also get tenancy rights.

The decision is likely to smoothen transfer of assets from one generation to another. Advocate Gurjit Singh Kaura said the decision was a step in the right direction and was much needed. He said it would also help end decade-long litigations across the state.

In other decisions, the Council of Ministers gave a go-ahead to the Punjab Private Universities Policy, 2010, for setting up self-financed private universities in the state to raise the standard of education and entrepreneurial skills of youth workforce.

The Cabinet also approved relaxation in the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (Class III) Service Rules, 1989, and Punjab Market Committees (Class III) Service Rules, 1989, to give jobs to players of the Indian World Cup Kabaddi team in the Mandi Board and Market Committees in the state.

The Council of Ministers rationalised annual Motor Vehicle Tax on private service vehicles at Rs 30,000 for those with seating capacity of one to twelve seats, Rs 45,000 for 13 to 30 seats and Rs 60,000 for above 31 seats in case of trade and business vehicles, as against current consolidated tax of Rs 45,000.

Likewise, vehicles of college and other educational institutions would be charged motor vehicle tax of Rs 25,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000 a year. In case of school buses, tax would be Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 a year for vehicles with one to twelve seats, 13 to 30 seats and above 31 seats, respectively. Earlier, fixed limit of Motor Vehicle Tax per annum was flat Rs 35,000 for college and other institutional vehicles and Rs 20,000 for school vehicles.

The Council of Ministers also gave its nod to revival and filling of 3,425 posts of teaching fellow in the primary cadre on contract basis.