Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Tuesday passed an ordinance approving death penalty for child rapists. It also granted approval that a corporate power trading company will deal with purchase of power for the state, it gave Financial autonomy to State Sports council and approved implementation of seventh pay commission.
J&K Minister Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Law & Justice Minister Abdul Hak Khan and Finance Minster Altaf Bukhari addressed a Press conference after the cabinet meeting in Jammu.
According to Khan Under J&K Protection of Children from Sexual Violence 2018 ordinance, for sexual offences against children up to the age of 12 years it will be death penalty/life imprisonment.
He also said that by the means of an ordinance, they have brought an amendment to the Criminal Law Ordinance 2018 which will enhance punishment to 20 years or life imprisonment for sexual offences against women under 13 to 60 years.
“Life in this case means life. There will no other interpretation of it,” Khan said.
Khan also said that investigation in these case, according to new ordinance, to be done by woman, the trial to be in camera, and fine imposed in these case will not go to government chest but to the rehabilitation of the victim .
“Investigation to be completed within two months, Trial to be completed in six months, then have put six months appeal time. Also made it into ordinance that statement of the victim to be recorded in 30 days and also that the burden of proof will lie on the accused,” Khan told reporters.
In another major decision of the cabinet committee, states finance minister Altaf Bukhari said that the purchase of power for the state will now be done on professional lines.
“As a major reform in power purchase there will be a corporate power trading company set up that will be dealing with the purchase of power,that means it will be done professionally,” Bukhari said.
“The 6000 CR power we purchase will now be bought on competitive rates.”
Bukhari said that there is an understanding that youngsters must get more engaged in sports activity to polish their talent so the State sports council has been granted Financial Autonomy.
He also said that they have ransferred to 1000 kanal to Islamic University of Science and Technology, 2500 kanals in the south campus Poonch, land to Govt engineering college Safapora and given clearance to 23 forest projects.
Bukhari also announced that the since the government had promised to its employees and so the seventh pay commission is given a nod and employees can draw salaries accordingly from this month.
“Even though there are financial constraints on the state but we keep out promise with the employees,” Bukhari said.
As part of Administrative reform, he said, working hours in offices will be streamlined and there will be 4o hours work in a week.
“Salary to be 100% Aadhar based and digital management to be put in place for leave management. We have done enhancement of duty allowance for the home gaurds i.e from 90 Rs to 225 Rs per day. 2154 posts as academic arrangement 2018-19 as forwarded to SSB, 2200 lecturer posts new and 400 posts up gradation programme,” he said.
Bukhari also said that the cabinet granted approval for creation of post of registrar computers, and joint registrar computers in high court jk.
As a relief approval has been granted for re engagement of constable operators as wireless assistants who were disengaged earlier due to wrong advertisement, he said.
Pay anomaly committee to be set up to look into cases and it wil especially look into problems of clerical cadre and other employees as well.
Cabinet sub committee will look into the rehabilitation of pony walas.
