September 21, 2018:

Jail term for the offence of chain-snatching from three years to seven years along with a fine of Rs 25,000.

On the second and concluding day of the monsoon session Wednesday, the Gujarat Assembly passed seven bills, including a bill raising salaries of the lawmakers.

Also the salaries are now raised by at least Rs 45,000 a month from the existing Rs 70,727 (of MLAs) and Rs 86,000 (of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition).

Another bill passed by the Assembly has replaced an ordinance issued last month amending certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code's section 379 (punishment for theft).

The new increased the jail term for the offence of chain-snatching from three years to seven years along with a fine of Rs 25,000.

Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, tabled the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, raised the penalty for schools which operate without registration with the Gujarat State Education Board from a maximum of Rs 1,000 earlier to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh.

Minister Chudasama also tabled Gujarat Biotechnology University Bill, 2018, which seeks to set up a biotechnology university.

Education Minister Nitin Patel presented the fifth bill, related to amendment of 30 sections of the Central GST Act. While the amendment bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, states were required to pass it in respective Assemblies.

Some of these amended sections pertain to correction of printing errors, while others are related to e-commerce and special economic zones.

In order to expedite re-development of housing colonies which are more than 25 years old and are dilapidated, the state government introduced the Gujarat Ownership Flats Act.

As per the bill, consent of 75 per cent of flat owners will suffice to undertake reconstruction, against the present provision which needs consent of all flat owners.

A separate bill amending the Gujarat Municipalities Act of 1963 was also passed.

The new bill sought to streamline the administration of 162 municipalities in the state and created a new post of "Commissioner of Municipalities Administration" in place of the present "Director of Municipalities".

The second session of the 14th Gujarat Assembly concluded Wednesday. The Assembly, earlier, had met in March for the Budget session.

Source PTI

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