Punjab govt notifies appointment of SDMs for mkt committees

Punjab government today notified the appointment of SDMs to carry out regular functioning of the 153 existing nominated market committees whose supersession was recently approved by the state cabinet.
The move, aimed at reforming the state's beleaguered agriculture sector, follows the promulgation of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 by the Punjab Governor, under clause (1) of article 213 of the Constitution of India, said an official release.
The notification for the appointment of the administrators has been issued under provisions of sub section (c) of 12-A of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.
It confers on the SDMs the necessary powers to carry out the duties that were so far being managed by the chairman and others members of the said committees located in the 22 districts, it said.

The notification directs all committee members to cease to hold office, with the SDMs taking over their responsibilities until the committees are reconstituted in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 within a period of one year from the date of supersession.
As per the cabinet decision, Section 12 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1961, would be amended to appoint administrators, who shall perform the official duties and exercise powers of the market committees for a period of one year or till the nomination of market committees, whichever is earlier.