Latest news with #PunjabVidhanSabha
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab to hire sign language experts under Juvenile Justice Act
To ensure access of the judicial system to all sections of society, the Punjab government is set to become the first state in the country to formally empanel sign language interpreters, translators and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. Baljit Kaur, minister for social security, emphasised that this empanelment under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 will bridge communication gaps and strengthen access to justice and rights for children. These trained professionals will play a supportive role during court proceedings, thereby ensuring impartial and transparent outcomes. These trained professionals will play a supportive role during court proceedings, thereby ensuring impartial and transparent outcomes. The minister further informed that the empanelled professionals would be deployed district-wise and would be compensated as per the provisions of the Acts. Timely and continuous assistance will be ensured wherever required. It is worth mentioning that the Punjab Government has already set a precedent by broadcasting important proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in sign language.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Punjab becomes first to empanel sign language experts under juvenile law
Punjab has become the first state in India to empanel sign language interpreters, translators, and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 to ensure accessible and sensitive justice for all, particularly children with hearing and speech impairments. The announcement was made by Dr Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development. These experts will be deployed district-wise to provide support services to children in need. This landmark step, undertaken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is designed to empower children with special needs by eliminating communication barriers in legal, educational, and daily life settings. The move is also aligned with the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Dr Kaur said the empanelled professionals will support children during court proceedings and other official matters, thereby promoting fair, impartial, and sensitive outcomes. She emphasised that the initiative reflects the state government's strong commitment to building an inclusive society where every child, regardless of ability, feels heard, understood, and protected. The professionals will be deployed across districts and compensated in accordance with the relevant legal provisions. Their timely assistance will be ensured in both routine and urgent cases involving children with special needs. Highlighting Punjab's pioneering approach to inclusive governance, the Minister noted that the state has already taken a significant step by broadcasting proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in sign language--an effort aimed at improving accessibility for the speech and hearing impaired. This latest initiative further strengthens the government's mission of removing systemic barriers and ensuring equal participation for all. It marks a major milestone in the state's ongoing efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of children with disabilities and promote justice that is both accessible and compassionate. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CM Mann to flag off bullock cart race at mega Ludhiana event
Chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will formally relaunch traditional bullock cart races in the state on Tuesday. The grand event will be held at the football stadium in Mehma Singh Wala village, located in the Gill constituency of Ludhiana. This will mark the beginning of a new era for one of Punjab's oldest sporting traditions, once a staple of rural life and fairs across the state. Chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will formally relaunch traditional bullock cart races in the state on Tuesday. The grand event will be held at the football stadium in Mehma Singh Wala village, located in the Gill constituency of Ludhiana. (HT File) The much-anticipated event follows the passage of the Punjab Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Act and the Punjab Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Bullock Cart Race) Rules, 2025. These legislative changes have cleared the legal hurdles that had halted bullock cart races for years. On Monday, MLA Jiwan Singh Sangowal and Baltej Pannu, chief spokesperson of the Nasha Mukti Morcha, visited the venue to review preparations. They described the upcoming event as a celebration of Punjab's cultural roots and expressed gratitude to chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for restoring the pride of traditional rural sports. 'This is a historic moment for Punjab. The CM has not only revived a cherished tradition but also shown his connection with the people and culture of the state,' said Pannu, adding that Mann will also hold an interaction with participants and enthusiasts of bullock cart racing during the event. The district administration, under the supervision of senior officials, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure smooth conduct of the event. Thousands are expected to attend the event, which will feature races, traditional performances, and cultural displays. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha had passed the amendment bill earlier this year, after which President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on February 27. With this, Punjab joined a select list of states that have legislated for the revival of such traditional sports under regulated conditions. With the return of bullock cart racing, the state aims to strike a balance between tradition and regulation, giving rural youth an opportunity to reconnect with their roots while ensuring animal welfare norms are strictly followed.
Economic Times
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Anti-sacrilege bill: Punjab Speaker forms 15-member select committee led by Inderbir Nijjar to consult stakeholders
IANS After three hours of intense debate of allegations and counter allegations, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday unanimously decided to refer the highly emotive Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill of 2025 to a select committee for consultation with all stakeholders. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Saturday formed a 15-member select committee of the House for wider consultations with stakeholders on an anti-sacrilege bill. The move came days after the Punjab Assembly unanimously decided to refer the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, proposing punishment up to life imprisonment for sacrilege acts against religious scriptures, to a select committee of the House. The panel will submit its report on the bill within six months. The 15-member panel will be headed by AAP MLA from Amritsar South and former minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar, according to a notification issued by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretariat on Saturday. The members of the committee are -- AAP MLAs Ajay Gupta, Amandeep Kaur Arora, Inderjit Kaur Mann, Jagdeep Kamboj, Neena Mittal, Baljinder Kaur, Budh Ram, Bram Shanker Jimpa, Madan Lal Bagga, and Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman; BJP MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan, Congress legislators Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal; and Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali. Punjab Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi will be the ex-officio member of the committee. The anti-sacrilege bill was introduced on July 14 in the House. The bill mandates strict punishment, extending up to life imprisonment, for the desecration of holy scriptures, including the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran. According to the bill, any person found guilty of sacrilege may face imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life. The guilty shall also be liable to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh, which may extend up to Rs 10 lakh. Those attempting to commit the offence may be sentenced to three to five years and shall also be liable to pay a fine which may extend up to Rs 3 lakh. Individuals found abetting the crime will be punished in accordance with the offence committed. Under the Bill, offence means any sacrilege, damage, destruction, defacing, disfiguring, de-colouring, de-filling, decomposing, burning, breaking or tearing of any holy scripture or part thereof. Sacrilege has been an emotive issue in Punjab. There has been a demand from various quarters for stringent punishment for sacrilege after the incidents of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 in Faridkot. In the police firing at anti-sacrilege protesters in October 2015, two persons were killed in Behbal Kalan, while some persons were injured at Kotkapura in Faridkot.
Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Anti-sacrilege bill: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker constitutes select committee; Inderbir Nijjar to head panel
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Sandhwan on Saturday constituted the select committee of the House to consult with all stakeholders and give suggestions on the draft of the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday. The 15-member committee will be led by former Cabinet minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar. The panel will comprise Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs Ajay Gupta, Amandeep Kaur Arora, Inderjit Kaur Mann, Jagdeep Kamboj, Baljinder Kaur, Neena Mittal, Budh Ram, Bram Shankar Jimpa, Mohd Jamil-Ur-Rehman, and Madan Lal Bagga, Congress MLAs Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, BJP MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Manpreet Ayali. While the committee has members from all faiths and is headed by a baptised Sikh, Punjab Advocate General Maninder Jit Singh Bedi will be the ex officio member. The select committee will submit its report to the Speaker within six months. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha had tabled the Bill on Monday in a special session of the Assembly. According to the statement of objectives and reasons of the Bill, there have been attempts to disturb the peace and communal harmony in the state by committing sacrilege of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, and other holy scriptures. The government said it was determined not to allow such incidents and ensure deterrent action against all those who commit such sacrilege. The proposed Bill aims to achieve this objective by providing life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege.
