New Delhi, April 1 : Congress MP from Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency Santokh Singh Chaudhary introduced two private members’ bills on Friday demanding a special financial package for Punjab and provision of reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes in the higher judiciary of the country. Introducing Special Financial Assistance to the State of Punjab Bill in the Lower House of Parliament, MP Chaudhary stated that the bill was “to provide for special financial assistance to the State of Punjab for the purpose of sustainable agriculture, development of growth-oriented infrastructure and industry, skill development and generation of employment, welfare schemes for farmers, agricultural labourers, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and other weaker sections, reducing groundwater extraction and combating possible desertification, development of border areas” and related matters. He stated that the people of Punjab were in need of large-scale investment in infrastructure, industry and agriculture, which could be ensured only with the active involvement and cooperation of the Central Government. To provide for reservation in the judiciary, MP Chaudhary introduced a bill for the appointment of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes as judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts. “There is a need for representation from the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes in higher judiciary. In the face of an inadequate number of judges from backward classes in higher courts, it is imperative to have a policy of reservation in this regard. This would ensure justice for all sections of the society as the needs of the oppressed would be better understood, leading to social equity,” he stated in the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill. The Congress MP said that as per the proportion of the population of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes to the total population of the country and different states, the judges belonging to these categories should be appointed to the Supreme Court and High Courts. Similarly, the reservation should be provided in the all-India judicial service whenever it is created. XC SHK2224