Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab Assembly is set to wrap up its monsoon session on August 10, with the government preparing to table around eight bills on the concluding day. The proposed legislation includes measures aimed at regulating fee hikes in unaided educational institutions and changing the framework governing thousands of outsourced government workers.
The Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Bill is among the most closely watched proposals. The legislation is expected to cover nearly 65,000 outsourced employees by bringing them into direct contractual arrangements with the state government. The move would effectively reduce their dependence on private outsourcing agencies and contract-labour arrangements.
Another major proposal deals with fees charged by unaided educational institutions. The amendment seeks to address complaints over steep or arbitrary increases in private school fees.
The Punjab Common Infrastructure (Amendment) Bill is also expected to come up for consideration.
Opposition wants session extended
The final sitting is likely to see heated exchanges, with opposition parties insisting that the House should be given more time to discuss issues concerning the state.
Congress has maintained an aggressive posture throughout the session. Its MLAs have raised questions over recruitment examination irregularities, law and order, Punjab’s finances and the government’s unfulfilled promises.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party, meanwhile, has repeatedly turned its attention towards the Centre. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan have criticised the BJP-led Union government over several issues during the proceedings.
E20, paper leaks and mining dominate proceedings
The session has seen several contentious issues come to the forefront.
On August 3, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema moved a resolution targeting the Centre over alleged examination paper leaks. Congress legislators simultaneously raised the alleged pharmacy officer examination leak in Faridkot and demanded action against the Education Minister before staging a walkout.
A day later, the Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution seeking postponement of the mandatory rollout of E20 petrol until technical concerns surrounding the fuel blend are addressed.
The Cabinet subsequently cleared several bills and ordinances, including proposals concerning outsourced employees and private school fees. The House also witnessed a sharp exchange between AAP and SAD members over the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill-2026.
Congress returned to protest mode on August 6, walking out over concerns relating to law and order, the state’s debt and the demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
Employees’ protest adds pressure
The political tension intensified outside the Assembly on August 7 when government employees and pensioners took to the streets in Chandigarh. They were demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and payment of pending dearness allowance arrears.
Police used water cannons to stop the protesters as the demonstration added another layer to the government’s challenges during the session.
With the House scheduled to complete its business today, attention will now turn to the proposed legislation and whether the government agrees to the opposition’s demand for more time. The final sitting is expected to see both legislative business and political confrontation before the session concludes.
