3 weeks ago
Punjab Vidhan Sabha clears nine Bills in final-day rush
The Punjab government's law-making group, the Vidhan Sabha, had its final meeting day of the monsoon session.
On that day, members voted on nine new laws in less than three hours.
Some laws were passed in just two minutes, with almost no discussion.
The opposition members were upset because they received the papers for these laws too late to read them carefully.
The leader of the opposition said this makes the House look unserious and sends a very wrong message.
One new law stops private schools from raising their fees by more than five percent each year.
Another law will help about 26,000 to 28,000 outsourced workers get benefits like retirement savings and maternity leave.
One law says that if you cut a tree in a city without permission, you must pay a fine and plant ten new trees.
Some members wanted more time to talk about the university laws, but they were allowed only two minutes.
They protested by moving to the middle of the room, and one member walked out.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha cleared all nine Bills in under three hours on the final day of the monsoon session, with some passed without discussion in less than five minutes.
Opposition Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, protested that Bills were circulated at the last minute, saying the hurried passage defeats the purpose of the House.
The House unanimously passed Bills capping private school fee hikes at 5 per cent annually and bringing 26,000-28,000 outsourced employees under direct contractual engagement with statutory benefits.
Three university Bills, including the Cloud University, Hoshiarpur Bill, 2026, were moved by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains amid protests from Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh over limited speaking time.
Other Bills covered GST procedural reforms, the merger of Panchayat Secretaries and Village Development Officers, industrial area infrastructure SPVs, and tree protection with fines of Rs 10,000-Rs 50,000.
- Who
- Punjab Vidhan Sabha under Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and presiding officer Jai Krishan Rouri, with ministers including Harjot Singh Bains, Harpal Cheema, Aman Arora, Tarunpreet Singh Sond and Lal Chand Kataruchak, and opposition Congress members led by Partap Singh Bajwa.
- What
- Cleared nine Bills in less than three hours on the final day of the monsoon session, covering school fee regulation, outsourced employees, universities, GST, Panchayati Raj, industrial infrastructure and tree protection.
- Where
- Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Punjab, India.
- When
- Monday, the final day of the monsoon session; Bills were tabled from around 2.41 pm and all nine were passed by 5.21 pm.
- Why
- To clear pending legislative business before the session ended; two of the Bills are politically significant ahead of Assembly polls due in the state early next year.
Opposition / Protesting MLAs
Government / House Leadership
Time given to study Bills
Opposition / Protesting MLAs
Bills were circulated at the last minute (six on August 7, two on August 9 and one on Monday), giving members no time to read them; this defeats the purpose of the House and puts every sitting member in poor light.
Government / House Leadership
Six Bills were circulated as early as August 7, and Speaker Sandhwan responded by directing Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ravjot Singh to ensure Bills are provided to members at least 15 days before they are tabled.
Speaking time on university Bills
Opposition / Protesting MLAs
Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh sought more time to discuss the future of children, saying he had come prepared, but was allowed only two minutes.
Government / House Leadership
Presiding officer Jai Krishan Rouri proceeded with the Bills amid the commotion, with three of four Bills passed without discussion in less than five minutes each.
Penalty for illegal tree felling
Opposition / Protesting MLAs
Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali sought punishment in addition to the monetary penalty for cutting trees without permission.
Government / House Leadership
Government's Bill provided fines of Rs 10,000-Rs 50,000 and mandatory compensatory plantation of 10 trees for every tree felled.
Key facts
- Bills passed
- 9
- Time taken for passage
- Under 3 hours (tabled 2.41 pm, passed by 5.21 pm)
- Sitting duration
- Nearly 7.5 hours without a lunch break
- Private school fee hike cap
- 5% per annum
- Outsourced employees covered
- 26,000 to 28,000
- Tree felling fine (urban areas)
- Rs 10,000 - Rs 50,000
- Compensatory plantation
- 10 trees per tree felled
- Employees benefited by cadre merger
- Around 1,384
Quotes
Partap Singh Bajwa
Opposition leader in Punjab Vidhan Sabha
“We are tired of saying it again and again. What is the purpose of this House? Nine Bills introduced in one day?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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