Punjab Assembly Passes Three Key Bills on Trade, Mining, and Prison Administration. During the budget session of the Punjab Assembly, three significant bills were passed, focusing on boosting trade, curbing illegal mining, and improving prison administration.
During the Question Hour, MLA Kulwant Singh inquired about the plan for a working women’s hostel in Mohali. Responding to this, Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed the House that Punjab will construct six new working women’s hostels. Of these, three will be in Mohali, while Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Bathinda will have one each.
The Assembly approved The Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims to create a business-friendly environment. Goods and Rehabilitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundia explained that under the new law, if a person has already paid stamp duty on a loan and later transfers the mortgaged property to another bank or financial institution without remortgaging it, no additional stamp duty will be imposed.
The Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units and Stockists & Retailers Bill, 2025 mandates the registration of all crusher units, stockists, and retailers to tackle illegal mining and environmental damage. The bill introduces strict penalties and an online monitoring system while also establishing a special fund to address ecological concerns arising from mining activities. Violators will face heavy fines, license suspension, unit sealing, and possible criminal action.
The Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025 enables the Punjab government to transfer inmates to prisons in other states. This step has been taken due to security threats posed by dangerous criminals lodged in Punjab’s jails, given the state’s border location. Many of these prisons house individuals involved in anti-national activities, terrorists linked to international agencies, top-tier gangsters, and smugglers who attempt to operate criminal networks from within jail. Amending the Prisoners Transfer Act, 1950, was deemed necessary to facilitate the relocation of under-trial prisoners across state lines.
Key Highlights:
- Registration of all mining units is now compulsory.
- Registered units must submit monthly returns.
- Strict penalties will be imposed for misinformation or non-compliance.
- An online portal will be introduced for digital monitoring.
- A special fund will be set up for environmental management.
- Harsh punitive measures will be enforced against violators.
- Anti-national criminals, terrorists, and gangsters in Punjab’s jails can now be transferred to other states.
These legislative measures aim to strengthen law and order while ensuring better governance in Punjab.
