Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Part III, Section 1(a), No. 25 (25 III 1a v3)

What the Gazette contains

The Tamil Nadu Government Gazette dated 19th June 2019 contains two separate sets of amendments. The Home Department amendment concerns service medals, while the Industries Department amendment concerns the administration of District Mineral Foundation funds.

The notifications do not change land ownership, registration, planning permission or property transfer requirements. The Industries Department amendment may be relevant to professionals and communities following mineral administration or projects funded by District Mineral Foundations.

Police, Prison and Fire Service medals

G.O. Ms. No. 259, Home (SC), dated 29th May 2019, amends the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Police Medal Rules, Prison Service Medal Rules and Fire Service Medal Rules.

Key provisions include:

• Gallantry awards made before 5th February 2014 remain linked to monthly monetary allowances under the conditions stated in the amended rules.
• For recipients after 5th February 2014, references to monetary allowances are changed to cash prizes in the specified provisions.
• Where a later gallantry award is received after 5th February 2014, the full cash prize is payable in addition to the original allowance or cash prize.
• For medal recipients after 5th February 2014, misconduct results in forfeiture of the medal alone.
• Gallantry may be recognised more than once through additional bars attached to the medal riband.
• Awards may be made posthumously, with the attached lump sum grant or cash prize paid to the family.
• The Prison Service provisions specify a monthly allowance of Rs.300 for eligible recipients before 5th February 2014. The corresponding Fire Service amount is Rs.500.

District Mineral Foundation funds

G.O. Ms. No. 112, Industries (MMD.1), dated 30th May 2019, inserts a new provision into the Tamil Nadu District Mineral Foundation Rules, 2017.

The amendment provides that:

• An amount not exceeding one percentage of total monthly fund receipts must be transferred by the 10th day of the following month to a bank account maintained and operated by the Director of Geology and Mining.
• The money may meet state or regional monitoring expenses, including technology and e-governance modernisation, infrastructure, meetings and training.
• A committee headed by the Director of Geology and Mining must scrutinise and recommend expenditure.
• The transfer must remain within the maximum six percentage of annual receipts earmarked for administrative, supervisory, overhead or establishment expenses.