CHANDIGARH, Aug 14: — The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Thursday approved amendments to the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, and withdrew stamp duty and registration fee exemptions for certain categories of cooperative societies, the Chief Minister’s Office said.
Originally meant to promote the development of cooperatives, the exemption from compulsory registration under the Act had allowed property transactions — particularly in urban housing societies — to occur without formal registration or payment of fees, officials said. This loophole led to unregistered possession, benami transactions, and other legally risky arrangements.
To address the issue, the Cabinet approved an amendment to Section 37 of the Act, inserting subsections 2 and 3. These allow the state government, by notification, to exempt specified classes of cooperative societies or special arrangements from certain provisions. Once notified, these arrangements will fall under sections 17(b) and 17(c) of the Indian Registration Act, 1908, and require compulsory registration.
Other key decisions
The Cabinet approved the creation of a new post, “Panchayat Development Secretary,” by merging the cadres of Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sevaks (Village Development Officers). This will form a state-level cadre aimed at accelerating rural development. Existing Panchayat Secretaries will form a “dying cadre” and be placed in the seniority list after Gram Sevaks, based on self-declaration forms.
Ministers also gave ex-post facto approval to form a Group of Ministers to oversee smooth procurement of Kharif and Rabi crops in the upcoming season. Chaired by the agriculture minister, the group will include the food and supplies, transport, and water resources ministers.
The Cabinet further granted ex-post facto approval for a sub-committee to review recommendations from a committee of officers on Part II and Part III of the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission Report.
Additionally, the government decided to withdraw a June 4, 2025, notification issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department regarding the Land Pooling Policy 2025 and related amendments.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a shorter, 4–5 sentence newswire version for quick release alongside this detailed copy. That way, you’ll have both formats ready for different uses.
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Punjab Cabinet clears amendments to Cooperative Societies Act
Decision also covers new rural development post, crop procurement panel
CHANDIGARH — The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Thursday approved amendments to the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, and withdrew stamp duty and registration fee exemptions for certain categories of cooperative societies, the Chief Minister’s Office said.
Originally meant to promote the development of cooperatives, the exemption from compulsory registration under the Act had allowed property transactions — particularly in urban housing societies — to occur without formal registration or payment of fees, officials said. This loophole led to unregistered possession, benami transactions, and other legally risky arrangements.
To address the issue, the Cabinet approved an amendment to Section 37 of the Act, inserting subsections 2 and 3. These allow the state government, by notification, to exempt specified classes of cooperative societies or special arrangements from certain provisions. Once notified, these arrangements will fall under sections 17(b) and 17(c) of the Indian Registration Act, 1908, and require compulsory registration.
Other key decisions
The Cabinet approved the creation of a new post, “Panchayat Development Secretary,” by merging the cadres of Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sevaks (Village Development Officers). This will form a state-level cadre aimed at accelerating rural development. Existing Panchayat Secretaries will form a “dying cadre” and be placed in the seniority list after Gram Sevaks, based on self-declaration forms.
Ministers also gave ex-post facto approval to form a Group of Ministers to oversee smooth procurement of Kharif and Rabi crops in the upcoming season. Chaired by the agriculture minister, the group will include the food and supplies, transport, and water resources ministers.
The Cabinet further granted ex-post facto approval for a sub-committee to review recommendations from a committee of officers on Part II and Part III of the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission Report.
Additionally, the government decided to withdraw a June 4, 2025, notification issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department regarding the Land Pooling Policy 2025 and related amendments.
