CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government proposes to set up a fast track court to deal with the problems of NRIs.  A request to set up the fast track court would be made to the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court.  

A proposal to this effect was mooted by the Member Parliament and SAD working President Sukhbir Singh Badal, who said that the cases pertaining to NRI affairs were reportedly lingering for years on end.  

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the Empowered Steering Committee for the NRIs Samelan to be held at Chandigarh at Jalandhar on 5th and 6th January 2008 under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal.

Disclosing this here today Harcharan Bains, Director, Media and Publicity Operations for NRIs Affairs & Media Advisor to Chief Minister said that in another significant decision the committee asked the government to set up NRI Police Stations-cum-Facilitation Centres at six districts of Moga, Nawanshahar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Ludhiana.   

Bains further said that the leading journalists and editors of prominent Punjabi dailies published from abroad would be invited in advance to ensure proper and effective coverage in the media both electronic as well as print to make Punjabi diaspora aware about the burning issues concerning NRIs in the forthcoming Sammelan. The committee was also of the view to make arrangements for the live coverage of the proceedings of the Sammelan to enable the Punjabi NRIs about the vision of the Punjab government and its plan for their welfare.   Mr.Bains also pointed out that it was decided in the meeting to publish relevant material about the law of Property, Family Law and Tenancy & Land Revenue Acts in the form of brochure and also put the entire information on the web site.   The committee also made a proposal to broadcast/telecast programmes on foreign private radio and TV channels about the issues relating to the NRIs. 

Bains said that the Chief Minister also directed the Chief Secretary to hold separate meetings of the officers to make this mega event a grand success.  The Chief Minister also asked the MLAs and MPs to give the names of prominent NRIs with in a week to the committee who were to be invited during the Sammelan.