Cabinet approves amendment in UCC Act, mandates 15% profit share of PSUs to State
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 13 Oct: The Uttarakhand Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Secretariat here, today, approved several significant decisions concerning service rules, housing regulations, health sector transfers, and the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Secretary Shailesh Bagoli briefed the media on the decisions of the cabinet after the meeting. One of the important decisions is to approve relaxation in the ‘Freeze Zone’ in Raipur (Dehradun) and allowing some categories of construction work.
Bagoli shared that the Cabinet has allowed a partial relaxation in the ‘Freeze Zone’ norms applicable to Raipur and its adjoining areas, where the Assembly complex is proposed. The amendment now allows the construction of small residential houses and shops in the zone, subject to the standards, norms and parameters to be determined by the Housing Development Department. It may be recalled that, sometime ago, the government had declared Raipur area a Freeze Zone and had barred all construction activities in the area following a decision that the new Vidhan Sabha Complex will be built there. The MDDA had also stopped granting plan and map approvals in Raipur which created a lot of inconvenience to the locals who had been pursuing relaxations in the freeze zone restrictions. In this regard, Raipur MLA and BJP leader Umesh Sharma Kau had also been demanding relaxation. Now, after the cabinet has approved relaxation, people would be able to construct personal houses and shops, though large construction projects would continue to remain restricted.
The Cabinet further approved amendments to the online marriage registration system under the Uniform Civil Code. While Aadhaar remains mandatory for Indian citizens, the amendment accommodates individuals of Nepali, Bhutanese, and Tibetan origin who marry in Uttarakhand. Accordingly, Nepali and Bhutanese citizens may furnish their respective citizenship certificates or certifications issued by their diplomatic missions in India for residents staying beyond 182 days. Persons of Tibetan origin may submit valid registration certificates issued by the Foreigners Registration Office.
In an important financial decision, the Cabinet has made it mandatory for State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to contribute 15 per cent of their Profit After Tax (PAT) to the State Government, a measure aimed at augmenting the state’s financial resources and ensuring a more equitable contribution from revenue generating bodies.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to relax qualifying service requirements for the promotion of state government employees. In addition, the cabinet also ratified an earlier decision taken by the CM through deviation to prorogue the fifth State Assembly Session, which was held in Gairsain in August for just two days and had since been adjourned sine die.
In another key decision, the Cabinet also cleared amendments to the service rules governing Health Workers and Health Supervisors under the Medical Health and Medical Education Department. As per the decision, the employees who have completed five years of satisfactory service will now be eligible to make one lifetime request for mutual transfer. After the transfer, they will be treated as the most junior in the cadre of the new district. Transfers between plains and hill districts, as well as inter-hill district transfers, will also be permitted based on the availability of vacancies, with the Department framing detailed guidelines in this regard. The decision comes as a significant relief to the government employees seeking inter-district transfers for personal reasons.
The Cabinet also sanctioned an amendment to the Uttarakhand Women and Child Development Subordinate Supervisor Service Rules, 2021. Earlier, 50 per cent of supervisors’ posts were filled through direct recruitment, 40 per cent by promotion from Anganwadi Workers, and 10 per cent from Mini Anganwadi Workers. Following the directives of the Government of India to upgrade all Mini Anganwadi Centres into full Anganwadi Centres, the 10 per cent promotion quota reserved for Mini Anganwadi Workers has now been merged with that of Anganwadi Workers, raising their promotion quota from 40 per cent to 50 per cent.
In addition, the Cabinet also authorised the CM to finalise and announce the dates for the special session of the Fifth Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, to be held in Dehradun as part of the Silver Jubilee Year celebrations marking 25 years of the State’s formation.
