*Bhagwant Mann Govt’s crackdown on tobacco tax evasion uncovers ₹1.5 crore goods without invoice; recovery underway: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Simultaneous raids across 8 locations expose tax evasion network in tobacco trade: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Zero tolerance against tax evasion, Bhagwant Mann Govt intensifies crackdown on illegal tobacco trade: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Unregistered businesses & hidden stock unearthed as Bhagwant Mann Govt tightens noose on tax evaders: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH, 27th March 2026-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday announced that the Taxation Department has launched a large-scale, coordinated enforcement drive across Punjab to curb tobacco tax evasion, leading to the detection of unaccounted goods estimated at ₹1.5 crore.

Sharing details of the operation, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Following the recent increase in tax rates on tobacco products such as cigarettes, biris, and allied items, the department received specific inputs regarding a surge in tax evasion activities within this sector. Acting swiftly on this intelligence, teams from four State Investigation and Preventive Units (SIPUs) based in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Jalandhar were mobilized. These units carried out simultaneous inspections at eight different locations, comprising five registered business premises and three operating entirely without registration.”

Detailing the findings of the enforcement drive, the Minister stated, “Major detections were made in Ludhiana and Amritsar, where enforcement teams put in significant efforts to identify concealed storage locations and unaccounted stock. During the thorough inspections of both main shops and associated godowns, substantial quantities of goods were found being stored and traded without valid invoices.”

He added that the seized stock includes approximately 1.32 lakh packs of Indian cigarettes, 18,472 packs of Indian biris, 302 packs of zarda, 13 packets and 95 boxes of imported cigarettes, 148 pieces of foreign-made hookah material, 13,000 lighters, and 18 packs of Coolip.

Providing the financial assessment, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “A tax liability exceeding ₹50 lakh, along with applicable penalties, will be firmly recovered on the detected goods as per the provisions of the law. An amount of ₹12 lakh has already been recovered so far, and further recovery proceedings are actively underway.”

Reaffirming the Bhagwant Mann Government’s zero-tolerance stance on tax evasion, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Such coordinated enforcement actions will continue unabated to ensure strict tax compliance and to safeguard state revenue.” He also issued a stern advisory to traders, urging them to maintain proper documentation and strictly adhere to statutory provisions to avoid severe penal action.

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*DR. RAVJOT SINGH ASSUMES CHARGE AS JAILS MINISTER; EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO PARTY NATIONAL CONVENER AND CHIEF MINISTER FOR NEW RESPONSIBILITY*

*SAYS, STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO FURTHER REFORM JAIL DEPARTMENT, ENSURE BETTER FACILITIES FOR INMATES AND STRENGTHEN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM*

*HOLDS MAIDEN MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE JAIL DEPARTMENT*

*Chandigarh, March 27:*Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh on Friday assumed charge as the new Jails Minister at the Punjab Civil Secretariat-1 here.

Soon after taking charge, Dr. Ravjot Singh, who is also handling the portfolios of NRI Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, expressed gratitude to Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for reposing faith in him. He said he would make every effort to live up to the trust placed in him and discharge his duties with full commitment.

The Cabinet Minister also convened the key meeting with senior officials of the Jails Department to review ongoing works, achievements and future plans of the department.

The Minister said that focused efforts will be made to further streamline the functioning of the Jails Department. He underlined that priority will be given to improving facilities for inmates and strengthening the correctional framework.

He stressed that jails should not merely function as centres of punishment but must evolve into centres of reform, with emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration.

During the meeting, senior officials of the department made a detailed presentation highlighting ongoing projects, key initiatives and challenges before the Cabinet Minister.

Dr. Ravjot Singh directed the officers to ensure transparency, accountability and strict adherence to human rights while working towards making the prison system modern and efficient.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary Bhawna Garg, Secretary Mohammad Tayyab and ADGP Jails Arun Pal Singh along with other senior officers.

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*BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR NEW BUILDING OF GOVT SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL*

*MODERN BUILDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT A COST OF RS.20.16-CR*

*Chandigarh/Lehragaga, March 27:*Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today laid the foundation stone of the new building of Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), Lehragaga, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 20.16 crore, marking the formal commencement of this significant project.

Addressing the gathering, the Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government is committed to strengthening the education sector, and providing modern facilities in government schools remains a top priority. He stated that upon completion, the new building will offer a safe and inspiring learning environment for students, playing a vital role in their overall development.

He further informed that earlier, the school had very limited space, and several parts of the existing building had been declared unsafe, causing difficulties for both students and staff. Keeping these issues in view, the new building is being designed with a modern approach, featuring spacious classrooms, proper ventilation and lighting, an earthquake-resistant structure, and a student-friendly environment. He expressed confidence that the project will be completed within approximately 7–8 months and will serve as a model school for the region.

He also stated that after the completion of the new building, streams such as Medical, Non-Medical, and Commerce will be introduced in the school. This will enable local students to pursue higher education without having to travel far, ensuring access to quality education within their vicinity.

The Minister added that under this project, the school will be upgraded with science and computer laboratories, a modern library, smart classrooms, sports facilities, and proper sanitation arrangements. CCTV surveillance and other necessary measures will also be implemented to ensure the safety of students.

He emphasized that the Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to bring qualitative improvements to the education system so that children from all sections of society can access equal and high-quality education. He added that the transformation of government schools reflects the government’s commitment to taking progressive and long-term decisions in the education sector.

On this occasion, the President of the Municipal Council, Lehragaga, and former Principal of the school, Kanta Goyal; SDM Rakesh Prakash Singh; along with other departmental officials, school staff, students, and prominent local residents were present.

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*Bhagwant Mann Govt reviews 1,386 traders’ grievances, pushes for time-bound resolution through PSTC mechanism: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*256 PSTC meetings held across Punjab to ensure structured dialogue with traders, says Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt is strengthening transparent grievance redressal system for traders: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Punjab Govt mandates strict SOP compliance, fixes accountability to resolve traders’ issues: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*State-wide review chaired by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to fast-track pending traders’ complaints & improve responsiveness*

CHANDIGARH, 27th March 2026:Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday chaired a state-wide high-level review of the Punjab State Traders Commission (PSTC), asserting that the Bhagwant Mann Government is moving decisively to deliver time-bound resolution of traders’ grievances through a strict, accountable and transparent system.

Reviewing 1,386 complaints and the progress of 256 meetings held across Punjab, the Finance Minister underlined that the government has institutionalised a structured dialogue with the trading community, enforced strict SOP compliance, and activated a three-tier PSTC framework to ensure real-time, ground-level redressal of issues while fixing clear administrative responsibility at every level.

The meeting centered on thoroughly reviewing the master list of complaints, marking a decisive step toward resolving pending cases and actively noting new concerns raised by the business community.

Underscoring the ground-level impact of this framework, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “256 meetings have already been successfully conducted across the state. The primary objective of this structure is to facilitate a regular, structured, and mutually beneficial dialogue between the state administration and the trading fraternity. By reinforcing this formal system, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government aims to provide a highly transparent and responsive platform for traders to voice their concerns.”

Furthermore, the meeting underscored the necessity of fixing clear administrative responsibilities at the district and sub-divisional levels for the proper management, documentation, and resolution of these issues. Officials have been directed to ensure that all meeting records, photographs, and grievance resolutions are promptly uploaded onto the official government portal for public accountability.

During the meeting, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised the critical role of the PSTC's robust three-tier framework, which operates actively across the State, District, and Vidhan Sabha Constituency levels

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who is also Chairman of the PSTC, was accompanied by Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal. All Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners Police, Muncipal Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police joined the high-level virtual meeting, conducted through video conferencing from Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh. They were accompanied by the Chairperson and Members of the Punjab State Traders Commission, as well as the respective Chairmen of the District and Vidhan Sabha Constituency Traders Commissions, all of whom participated directly from their local Deputy Commissioner offices to guarantee the immediate, ground-level implementation of the government's directives.

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SC Commission summons Principal of Rajinder College Bathinda in case of non-admission to Dalit student

Chandigarh, March 27:Taking cognizance of the case of non-admission to a Scheduled Caste student at Rajinder College Bathinda, the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has summoned the college principal.

Disclosing this information, a spokesperson of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission said that this matter came to the notice of the commission through a news published in a newspaper, on which the commission has taken action and asked the Principal of Rajinder College Bathinda to appear before the commission in person on April 1, 2026.

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*Punjab sets benchmark in large-scale public healthcare delivery; over 30.51 lakh families enrolled under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna in under 3 months: Dr Balbir Singh*

*₹292 crore worth of free treatment approved in record time, bringing real financial relief to lakhs of families: Dr Balbir Singh*

*Fastest rollout, widest reach, Bhagwant Mann Govt’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna transforms healthcare access across Punjab: Dr Balbir Singh*

*1.77 lakh treatments authorised, 71,000 claims settled as Bhagwant Mann Govt delivers healthcare at scale with speed: Dr Balbir Singh*

*No dues pending, time-bound payments ensured, Bhagwant Mann Govt builds robust, trust-based healthcare system: Dr Balbir Singh*

CHANDIGARH, March 27:Punjab, under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, has set a benchmark in large-scale public healthcare delivery under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, emerging as a leading model nationally with over 30.51 lakh families enrolled and ₹292 crore worth of free treatment approved within three months of its launch on January 8, 2026. Highlighting the scale and pace of implementation, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday said the scheme has rapidly translated into real financial relief and healthcare access for lakhs of families across Punjab.

Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh stated, “The scheme has so far registered 30,51,325 beneficiaries and issued 1,77,097 free authorisations for treatment. The total approved value of treatment stands at ₹292 crore, of which ₹267 crore has already been approved. We have settled 71,000 claims and disbursed ₹60 crore to empanelled hospitals.”

Calling the achievement historic, the Health Minister emphasised that Punjab has outperformed all other states on every key parameter. “This is a historic day for Punjab. By any parameter, registrations, families covered or patients treated, Punjab is number one,” he said.

Assuring hospitals on timely payments, Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the Bhagwant Mann Government has put in place a robust mechanism to clear dues. “All pending dues up to March 31 will be cleared by April 15. No hospital will have a single rupee pending from our side,” he asserted.

He further outlined the new payment framework coming into effect from April 1. “Claims up to ₹1 lakh will be settled within 15 days, while bills above ₹1 lakh will be cleared within a week of submission. In case of disputes or verification requirements, the process will be completed within a month,” he said.

Highlighting the real impact of the scheme, Minister Dr Balbir Singh said it has already transformed lives across age groups. “Beneficiaries range from a one-year-old infant to a 99-year-old grandmother who received cancer treatment. We have covered complex cardiac procedures, including over 100 heart-related diseases. In one case, a patient with a ruptured sinus was successfully treated at Patiala Medical College under the scheme,” he noted.

“When the government spends ₹292 crore on treatment, it means that money stays in the pockets of the common man,” Dr Balbir Singh added, stating that the State Health Agency, in coordination with United India Insurance, is ensuring seamless delivery of universal healthcare coverage across Punjab.