Chandigarh, March 28
The Punjab Council of Ministers will take up the case for according a self-financed university status to Khalsa College, Amritsar, tomorrow as per the provisions of the Private University Act, 2010.

The Cabinet, which meets tomorrow to take up this as well as other issues, will be following up on a decision taken by the Khalsa College Management Committee as well as a committee of the Higher Education Department, which had also recommended the college to be accorded a university status. The government has already issued a letter of intent to accord this status to the college based on these recommendations.

However, it is to be seen how the government ensures the career of teachers in the college, who are paid from the grant-in-aid received from the government, is not affected. There is no provision in the Private University Act for continuing grant-in-aid once the college is converted into a university. The college management has assured that the future of the teachers will not be affected, but has not been specific about how funds will be arranged for the same.

Among other issues that have been listed on the agenda for tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting is the revival of six sick cooperative sugar mills of Zira, Jagraon, Faridkot, Patiala and Tarn Taran. The Cabinet will take up procedural difficulties to ensure the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) can take up the case for the revival of these mills. The issue of covering the employees of these mills under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) will also be discussed.

It will also discuss the constitution of the Commission for Security of Child Rights. This is essential in order to implement the Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The Cabinet also discuss the need for giving permission to only CNG fitted autos in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana from now onwards. Old autos are to be phased out even as it will be now compulsory for all auto owners to install meters.

The Cabinet will discuss a proposal for reducing VAT on bus body builders in the state. VAT is proposed to be lowered from the present 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent.

This is being done to stop the migration of the bus and truck body building industry to other states.

The government proposes to recoup the loss suffered by giving concessions through an increase in volume. Tax concessions will also be discussed for local bus city operators at the meeting tomorrow.