Punjab Vigilance Commission Bill passed in state assembly

Chandigarh, Sep 15 (UNI) The state assembly today passed the Punjab State Vigilance Commission Bill 2006, paving way for the constitution of the Commision, in absence of the opposition MLAs who were suspended during the earlier proceedings of the House.

As per the bill, the existing Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) will be functioning directly under the proposed Commission.

The VB would have to seek prior permission to proceed against officials in Group A category and above. This means that the IAS, IPS, PCS and several senior engineers and doctors would be covered under the category. The Commission would direct the VB in these cases.

As per the new legislation, a judge of a high court or an IAS officer to the rank of the state chief secretary or secretary to the Union government or an IPS officer to the rank of the state DGP could only be appointed as the state's Chief Vigilance Commissioner.

The state assembly today also passed other bills, through voice vote in absence of the suspended opposition members, which included Punjab Herd Registration Bill, Punjab School Teachers Re-employment Bill, Punjab Plastic carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Municipal Fund Bill, Punjab Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Excise (Amendment) Bill and Punjab Value Added Tax (Second Amendment) Bill.

UNI PS PR RS1819