CABINET CLEARS BILL ENSURING TIME-BOUND SERVICES TO CITIZENS

• The Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave its nod to a Bill aimed at providing time-bound delivery of services such as passports, pensions and birth and death certificates, among others, to citizens.
•  The Legislation: The Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011

 SALIENT FEATURES:

•  The Bill lays down an obligation upon every public authority to publish a citizen's charter stating the time within which specified goods shall be supplied and services be rendered and provides for a grievance redressal mechanism
• It envisages a penalty of up to Rs 50,000 against a government official failing to provide his or her duties
• Mandates a public authority to establish a call centre, customer care centre, help desk and people’s support system to ensure time-bound delivery of services.
• The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances once passed by Parliament will be binding on states.