Gujarat to implement right to time-bound services Act soon

Gujarat government today announced plans to implement the Gujarat (Right of Citizens to Public Services) Act 2013, which gives every citizen the right to time-bound delivery of public services.
The Act was passed by the Gujarat Assembly in 2013 unanimously but never notified. However, after a gap of two years since it was passed, the state government plans to issue a notification prescribing rules and regulations.
"This Act gives the right to every citizen of Gujarat to get time bound services and seek redressal of their grievances. The Act was passed in 2013, now, we will issue a notification in the coming days, since we are in final stages of finalising the draft for rules," Health Minister and spokesperson of Gujarat government Nitin Patel said.

"There are hundreds of services, such as issuance of driving license or ration card. We will cover some of the services and prescribe the time limit under which it has to be delivered by government official concerned. Later, we will cover all other services in phased manner," Patel said.
He said the Act has provisions to take action against officers who fail to deliver the services to citizens within the prescribed time limit.
Further, the notification will also prescribe the fine to be imposed on officers found guilty of not providing services in time.

"In the notification, we will prescribe time limits for every service. This Act makes government officials more answerable, since it empowers the government to take action against those who fail to deliver services in time," Patel said.

The Act also provides for appointment of designated officers, grievance redressal officers as well as constitution of the state appellate authority.
"The Act provides that if the relevant service is not provided within the prescribed time limit, then the aggrieved person can file a complaint before the grievance redressal officer and the appellate authority," Patel said.