Gujarat assembly gives nod to six bills in four hours

AHMEDABAD: The state assembly on Friday cleared six bills, including two finance bills. The House also passed the Shops and Establishment Bill and gave powers to municipal corporations to appoint deputy municipal commissioner and assistant municipal commissioners.

All the six bills were cleared in a span of nearly four hours. Barring the Shops and Establishment Bill, the remaining five bills were cleared unanimously.

Gujarat Shops and Establishment Act: An amendment in the Gujarat Shops and Establishment Act (regulation of employment and conditions of service) allowed the shops and establishment to remain open 24x7 in the state. The government also announced a series of other reforms to provide creche facility for establishment employing more than 30 women employees. The government also doubled the overtime wages from the existing 1.5 times among others.

Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (amendment) Bill: The government has decided to give powers to municipal corporations to appoint deputy municipal commissioners and assistant municipal commissioners. However, these appointments will be subject to final approval from the state government. The existing provision of the Act empowers the state government to appoint its officers as the deputy municipal commissioner and assistant municipal commissioner. The government can also decide to send an IAS officer as DyMC in the corporation.

Gujarat Housing Board (Amendment) Bill: The state government by amending the Gujarat Housing Board (amendment) Bill 2019 paved way for re-development of the GHB colonies which are over 25 years old. The amendment also stated that the consent of the only 75% residents was necessary. The bill, which was cleared in the assembly, has the provision that the developer will have to pay the rent or provide alternative arrangement for the time till the new re-developed houses are ready.

Gujarat Agricultural Land Ceiling (amendment) Bill: The bill states that the existing clause provides that lands being utilized for maintenance of panjarapol or gaushala were falling under the land ceiling act and cases were registered by the revenue department. The government by amending the Act exempted these panjarapol and gaushala from the Land Ceiling Act. As a result, some 29 cases which were filed by the revenue department for holding more land than the stipulated area will also be withdrawn. Among these, major ones include Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala, Gadhada Mandir Gaushala and Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi in Bhavnagar.