UP sets up Police Reforms Commission

Lucknow, Jan 3 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government today approved setting up of the state Police Reforms Commission.

The decision to set up the commission was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Former state Chief Secretary Bholanath Tiwari will head the commission.

The body would have former UP police chief Vijay Shanker Mathur as its member, while Mr R M Srivastava of the state home department will be its member secretary.

The commission would give its report to the state government within the next six months. The decision of the state government comes close on the heels of the recent meeting of chief ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

In another decision, the cabinet approved the hike in the Local Area Development (LAD) fund by Rs 25 lakh per annum. Now the LAD fund for the state legislators would stand at Rs 1.25 crore.

The announcement to this effect was made by the CM on the concluding day of the marathon monsoon session of the state legislature.

Betel nut has been made a taxable commodity in UP. This would generate a revenue of Rs 10 crore per annum for the state exchequer.

The cabinet also approved increasing the age of chairman, deputy chairman and members of UP Public Tribunals. Now the chairman of the tribunals can work till the age of 67 yrs, while his deputy and other members can hold office till the age of 65 yrs.

Jails in Etawah and Rampur districts would be shifted out of the city areas, it was decided by the cabinet.

The cabinet also approved sending recommendation to the governor to prorogue the monson session of the state legislature.

UNI