Right of Citizens Bill to be passed in next Par session: Govt

A bill providing for time-bound delivery of services such as passports, pensions and birth and death certificates will be passed by Parliament during its session next month, Union Minister V Narayanasamy said today.
"The Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011, will be passed in next Parliament session," the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions told reporters here.
Parliament will meet from February 5 to 21 as continuation of the winter session to pass a 'Vote-on-Account' budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected to be held in April-May.

The proposed legislation envisages penalty of up to Rs 50,000 against an official failing to provide the service, Narayanasamy said.
Such a law is already in place in 14 states including Karnataka, which is implementing "Sakala" scheme, he said.
Opposition parties including BJP have flayed the bill saying that forcing states to adopt it was tantamount to attack on the federal structure of government.

The bill lays down an obligation upon every public authority to publish citizen's charter, stating therein the time within which specified goods shall be supplied and services be rendered, and provides for a grievance redressal mechanism for non-compliance of its provisions.

The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, also 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.
It also seeks establishment of public grievance redressal commission at the Centre and every state.
According to its provisions, a person aggrieved by the decision of the commission may appeal before the Lokpal at the Centre (in case of decision by the Centre's public grievances redressal commission) or the Lokayukta in the states.