The government on Thursday approved a proposal to bring in a new legislation for stricter control over benami transactions. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters in New Delhi that Benami transactions (Prohibition) Bill 2011 will be introduced replacing the existing Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988. She said that it was found during the process of formulating the rules that there are infirmities in the legislation which could not be possible without a comphrehensive legislation by repealing the act. She said the new Bill contains elaborate provisions dealing with the definition of benami transaction and benami property, prohibited benami transactions, consequences of entering into a prohibited benami transaction and the procedure for implementing the benami law.The Minister said that the Cabinet also approved the proposal for enhancing reservation for women in Panchayats from the present 33 per cent to 50 per cent with the provision being applicable to all seats filled through direct election, office of chairpersons and of offices reserved for SC/ST.Ambika Soni said that the Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Lok Sabha on November 26, 2009, will incorporate one change suggested by the Standing Committee on Rural Development that the word rural be added before the word “population” wherever it occurs in the draft legislation. The minister said that Cabinet also approved amendments to the Customs Act which will validate show cause notices issued by officials in cases of duty evasion running into thousands of crores. She said, the Amendment Bill to amend Section 28 of the Customs Act 1962 will be introduced in the ensuing monsoon session of Parliament.The information and broadcasting minister said that cabinet also gave its nod for accepting international regulations for the prevention of air pollution emanating from ships, as proposed under a 1997 protocol of the International Maritime Organisation. She said that the Cabinet gave its approval for accession to the 1997 Protocol adding Annex VI (Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution) to the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.Ms. Soni said Cabinet also approved acquisition of State bank of India commercial and international bank ltd by the State Bank of India. The acquisition took place on the recommendations of the Board of Directors of the two banks and the Reserve Bank of India. She said draft order of acquisition has been prepared and will be notified soon in the gazette.