07 Mar, 2013 12:36 PM

Time-Bound Services Bill passed. Fine upto Rs. 50,000/- for delay

Is the public services getting delayed because of you? Then beware. You are liable to be fined upto Rs. 50000/-

The cabinet has today cleared a bill that guarantees citizens delivery of services within a fixed time.

The Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011, was approved by Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The bill envisages penalty of up to Rs. 50,000 against a government official failing to provide his or her duties, official sources said.

It lays down an obligation upon every public authority to publish citizen’s charter, stating therein the time within which specified goods shall be supplied and services be rendered and provides for a grievance redressal mechanism for non-compliance of its provisions.

All government departments are covered by the bill.

The penalties for officials who miss the deadline start at Rs. 250 a day with a ceiling of Rs. 50,000.

If a service is not provided on time because of corruption - like an official insisting on a bribe to get the job done - a criminal investigation could follow.

The government's focus on helping citizens is the result of activist Anna Hazare's campaign two years ago, which became hugely popular because it highlighted the systemic corruption and delay that Indians confront every day when dealing with government officials.

Read : Highlights - The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011

Read the Bill : The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011