Chandigarh, September 16: The Council of Ministers on Monday approved raising of the age limit for Chairperson of Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes 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.
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.
