Munde govt proposes penalty against govt officials who fail to deliver

RANCHI: Police verification reports for passports, arms or character certificates within seven days, a driving licence within 30 days, an international driving licence within seven days, a residence proof certificate in 15 days and a caste certificate within 30 days! This sounds unbelievable.

But Arjun Munda's government in Jharkhand is ready with a draft bill for Right to Services. It proposes penalty of 500 to 5,000 against government officials who fail to deliver services to common man. As per the draft bill, officials will have to pay from their salaries if they fail to deliver on time. The penalties will be deducted from the salaries of the employees in proportion as decided by the department concerned.

The draft bill of the Jharkhand Rajya Seva Dene Ki Guarantee Vidheyak-2011 (Right to Service Bill) has been uploaded on the state government website to invite suggestions and objections from the citizens.

According to the draft bill, prepared by the personnel and administrative reforms department, different departments of the government will notify services that will be offered by them under the Right to Service Act. The departments also have to notify the designated officers, first-appeal officer and the second-appellate authority along with the time limit.

Some of the other stipulated time limits for delivery of services in the draft bill include postmortem report, which has to be ready within three days, social pension applications within 21 days, licence for saw mill/crushers, brick kilns, fertilizer shops, medicine shops should be issued within 30 days.