Chandigarh: To fast-track the process of recruitment to five government departments, the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Monday gave approval for amendments to the relevant service rules. The departments are Home Affairs & Justice; Jails; Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development;` School Education; and Rural Development & Panchayats.
The move will accelerate the government’s State Employment Plan 2020-22, to fill vacant jobs in these departments in a time-bound manner, as part of the restructuring process to improve efficiency through rationalisation of manpower.
The Cabinet gave approval to amend ‘The Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab Group-A Rules, 2021’ and ‘The Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab Group-B Rules, 2021’. These Rules would govern the recruitment/appointment and the conditions of service of the staff of Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab.
The Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab, earlier had 48 sanctioned technical posts, which has now been enhanced to 189. Three Regional Testing Forensic Science Laboratories for the examination of cases related to NDPS Act came into existence in the year 2015. New divisions like DNA Analysis and Audio/Voice analysis have been established, while Cyber Forensic Division and Polygraph Division are likely to be established soon in the main Forensic Science Laboratory.
The Council of Ministers also approved Chemical Examiner Laboratory, Punjab (Group A) Service Rules, 2021, Chemical Examiner Laboratory, Punjab (Group B) Service Rules, 2021 and ‘Chemical Examiner Laboratory, Punjab (Group C) Service Rules, 2021. These Rules would enable the department to urgently recruit dedicated manpower for serious crime based viscera and blood alcohol cases in Chemical Examiner Laboratory Punjab, Kharar. On the directions of Punjab & Haryana High Court, the Chemical Examiner Laboratory’s control has been handed over to the Home department from Health & Family Welfare. Moreover, the High Court is maintaining close surveillance, especially on pendency of samples, non-production of challans in court, viscera and blood alcohol/drug for blood & urine and alcohol cases without testing and analysis.