ByYS.Rana:
CHANDIGARH—In a bid to provide efficient, transparent and time-bound delivery of public services, the Right to Service Act has become fully operational in Chandigarh. K.K. Jindal, Commissioner, Right to Service Commission, Chandigarh said that detailed provisions of the Act, the rules and the list of public services which were covered in Chandigarh might be seen on the commission’s WebSite: www.rtsc.chd.gov.in.
He further stated that for any queries the public was free to contact the commission’s office by way of an E-mail/phone or personal visit at its office. Residents can now hope time-bound delivery of public services by the departments, board and corporation.
While talking to Mr Jindal in his office, he said that decks have been cleared and the ission has started working now. The Administration has constituted the Commission after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoH) extended the Punjab Right to Service Act to Chandigarh last year. The Administration has notified its Right to Service Act on September 13, 2019, said Jindal and in absence of rules it could not be implemented.
He further stated that the commission has sent an advisory to all departments, boards and corporation to place these rules on their respective WebSites for the benefit of service seekers. The departments would also be asked to prepare format of application and list of documents required with the application for a particular service.
In July he asked the Administration to direct all departments providing public services to identify services being provided and time limit of delivery by the rtment concerned. Initially, around 50 services have been notified by the various departments. He has also asked each department to designate officers for service delivery along with the intment of first and second appellate authorities. All such departments have submitted their details to the commission.
Dwelling on how the system will work, Jindal said that on the use of the official to provide the required service within the frame or refusal to provide the service, the service seeker can approach the first appellate authority. If he aggrieved by the decision of the first appellate authority he can make an appeal before the second appellate authority. In case of he is not satisfied with the decision of second appellate authority who can either accept or reject the appeal by making a written order. Then the applicant can file a revision petition before the Commission. He has also stated that the commission has been given the powers of revision against the order of a cond appellate authority. The Commission on monthly-basis will call up the details of applications from all departments, boards and corporations.
He further stated that if the services were not carried out under the prescribed time limit, the Act provided for a penalty against the designated official. The second appellate authority can impose a penalty on the erring official for deficiency in service without any reasonable cause. The penalty can range from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 or disciplinary action against the official.
Jindal also assured that the commission would ensure proper implementation of the Right to Service Act for the sake of administrative reforms and realization of public aspirations. EOM