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The Punjab Cabinet on Monday approved amendments to the service rules of the Election Department, a move aimed at removing long-pending administrative hurdles and strengthening the state's election infrastructure. According to an official statement, the decision will help ensure the smooth conduct of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and facilitate the filling of key vacancies required for election-related work.

The approval was granted during a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Providing details of the decision, the Chief Minister's Office said the Cabinet has amended the Election Department Service Rules by reducing the minimum experience required for promotion from the post of election 'kanungo' to election 'tehsildar' from 15 years to 12 years. The amendment became necessary due to the existence of seven vacant posts of election 'tehsildar' in the department, which have remained unfilled under the existing eligibility criteria.

 

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The government noted that with the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls currently underway and the Punjab Legislative Assembly elections on the horizon, there is an immediate need for election 'tehsildars' to ensure the efficient handling of election-related responsibilities. At present, none of the serving election 'kanungos' qualify for promotion because they do not meet the existing requirement of 15 years of service experience.

By reducing the eligibility period to 12 years, the department expects that eligible election 'kanungos' will be able to secure promotions in the near future, enabling the vacant posts to be filled and improving the overall functioning of the election machinery.

 

In a separate decision, the Cabinet also approved the Annual Administrative Report of the Department of Water Resources for the financial year 2025-26.
The approval will facilitate the documentation, assessment and review of the department's administrative performance, activities and achievements during the financial year, while also supporting greater transparency and accountability in its functioning.