HC seeks Centre's response on plea to provide citizen charter

The Delhi High Court today sought the Centre's response on a petition seeking a direction to the government to provide a citizen charter in every department to ensure time-bound delivery of goods, services and redressal of citizen's grievances.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath asked the counsel appearing for the Centre to seek instruction on the issues raised in the petition and posted the matter for further hearing on August 10.
A citizen charter is issued for improving the quality of public services and this is done by letting people know the mandate of ministry or department concerned and how to seek a remedy of their grievances.

The petitioner, advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, has also sought a direction to the Centre to implement United Nations Convention Against Corruption of October 2003 and 'Sense of the House' resolution of August 27, 2011.
Referring to the 'Sense of the House' resolution, the plea said "This House agrees in principle on following issues: (i) Citizen Charter (ii) Lower bureaucracy under Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism and (iii) Establishment of Lokayukta in the states and further resolves to forward the proceedings of the House to the standing committee on Law and Justice while finalizing its report."
It said that on October 31, 2003, the United Nations Convention Against Corruptionwas adopted by the General Assembly and a total of 178 countries, including India, had signed it.

"A citizen charter in every department will send a clear message that the government is determined to prevent and control corruption," the plea said.
"Petitioner firmly believes that implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and 'Sense of the House' Resolution dated August 27, 2011 is essential to curb the corruption," it said.
The petition claimed that in absence of an independent and impartial Lokapal at the Centre, Lokayuktas in the states and a citizen charter bill, "prevailing corruption cannot be controlled...