Punjab cabinet approves raising SC Commission chairperson age limit
KS Diwan/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
The Council of Ministers on Monday approved raising of the age limit for Chairperson of Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes Act, 2004, from 70 to 72 years.
An Ordinance will be brought to amend Section 4 (1) of the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes Act, 2004 to bring the change into effect, said an official spokesperson after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
At present, the term of the Chairperson’s office is six years or age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.After the approval by the the Council of Ministers the age limit for Chairperson of Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes Act, 2004, will be from 70 to 72 years.
This decision will help in getting more experienced persons for the post, thus ensuring effective implementation of laws meant to protect and safeguard the interests of the state’s SC communities.
The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes was constituted under the ‘The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Act, 2004’. Regarding the appointment of Chairperson of the Commission, Section 3 (2) (a) of the Act-2004 provides; ‘a chairperson, who shall be an eminent person belonging to Scheduled Castes or a retired officer of the Government of State of Punjab belonging to the Scheduled Castes not below the rank of Principal Secretary, to be appointed by the Government.”
Duties and Functions of the Commission:
Constitution of India under Article 338 has assigned the following duties and functions to the Commission.
A -To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
B- to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes;
