Punjab Vidhan Sabha unanimously passes four Bills on day 2 of Winter Session

In a significant legislative move, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed four key Bills during its two-day winter session. The bills, namely the Transfer of Property (Punjab Amendment) Bill, the Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill, the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, and the Punjab Canal and Drainage Bill, aim to address various aspects of property, registration, stamp duties, and canal water management.

Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa presented the first three bills, focusing on property-related amendments, while State Water Resources Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra introduced the Punjab Canal and Drainage Bill. The latter aims to ensure seamless canal water access for farmers, facilitating irrigation, maintenance, and timely canal cleanliness.

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Unanimous approval concludes Winter Session

All four bills received unanimous approval on the concluding day of the winter session. The legislative move is seen as crucial for streamlining property transactions and enhancing water resource management in the state.

The winter session was proposed by the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government following the prorogation of the budget session in March. The prorogation, initially causing a standoff between the governor and the AAP government, led to a legal tussle resolved by the Supreme Court on November 10. The court asserted the speaker's authority in conducting assembly business and upheld the validity of the sessions convened by the elected arm of the state.

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Resolution of Pending Bills

Following the Supreme Court's decision, the state government moved swiftly, and Governor Banwarilal Purohit cleared the pending money bills. The bills include the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill.

The recent legislative developments mark a significant step forward in Punjab's governance and legislative agenda, resolving a prolonged dispute over the prorogation of the state assembly.