Chandigarh: Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved amendments to the service rules governing Revenue Patwaris and Kanungos, paving the way for restoration of their district-level cadre. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of a new grain market at Lehragaga, three sets of labour-related rules and a wet waste-based Compressed Biogas (CBG) project for the Mohali cluster.The Cabinet gave its approval to the Punjab Revenue Patwaris (Group C) Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026 and the Punjab Revenue Kanungos (Group C) Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026.An official spokesperson said that the revenue department had framed the Punjab Revenue Patwaris (Group C) Service Rules, 2023, reducing the training period of Patwaris from one-and-a-half years to one year while retaining the district-level cadre structure and the district collector as the appointing authority. However, through an amendment notified on March 14, 2024, the appointing authority was changed from the District Collector to the Director of Land Records, Punjab.Subsequently, an exercise was undertaken to prepare a common statewide seniority list by merging district-level seniority lists. This exercise gave rise to several legal challenges and administrative anomalies, particularly concerning Patwaris who had opted for voluntary inter-district transfers on the explicit condition of forfeiting their seniority. The statewide seniority list negated the effect of such forfeiture, creating complications in cadre management.To overcome these anomalies, remove the administrative deadlock and ensure greater efficiency in the functioning of the Revenue Department, the Cabinet decided to restore the district-level cadre of Patwaris as an administrative reform measure. Under the amended rules, the District Collector will be the appointing authority for Patwaris and Kanungos at the district level, while their seniority lists will also be maintained by the respective District Collectors.GRAIN MARKET FOR LEHRAGAGAIn another decision, the Cabinet approved the transfer of 217 kanals and 14 marlas of govt-owned land at Village Khandebad, Tehsil Lehragaga, District Sangrur, from the department of revenue, rehabilitation and disaster management to Punjab Mandi Board for establishing a new grain market.The land will be transferred at the collector rate of Rs 15 lakh per acre, involving a total consideration of Rs 4.08 crore. The proposed grain market is expected to provide better marketing infrastructure and substantial convenience to farmers and the common people of the region.LABOUR CODE RULESThe Cabinet also approved three sets of rules aimed at strengthening the implementation of labour welfare and social security provisions in Punjab. These include the Code on Wages (Punjab) Rules, 2026, framed under the Code on Wages, 2019; the Punjab Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026, framed under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; and the Punjab Social Security Rules, 2026, framed under the Code on Social Security, 2020.CBG FOR MOHALIThe Cabinet also approved the award of Wet Waste-Based Compressed Biogas (CBG) Project for the Mohali Cluster to HPCL Renewable and Green Energy Limited (HPRGE) on a nomination basis. The project will be established at Village Samgauli, Dera Bassi, under Municipal Corporation Mohali.
