- Right to Public Services legislation in India comprises statutory laws which guarantee time bound delivery of services for various public services rendered by the Government to citizen.
- It provides mechanism for punishing the errant public servant who is deficient in providing the service stipulated under the statute.
- Right to Service legislation are meant to reduce corruption among the government officials and to increase transparency and public accountability.
- Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to enact Right to Service Act on 18 August 2010 and Bihar was the second to enact this bill on 25 July 2011.
- Several other states like Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh,Kerala, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand have introduced similar legislation for effectuating the right to service to the citizen.
MP Guarantee of Public Service Delivery Act 2010
The Act ensures delivery of time bound services to the public. If the officer responsible for the service fails to provide the service in time he will have to pay a fine.
- The applicant shall receive a receipt when he or she submits an application to the officer for desired service. The time begins from the date of submission which is mentioned the receipt.
- There is a fixed time for every officer to keep a file with him. If the officer in charge fails to provide the service in time the applicant can approach the first and second appellate officers. They would instruct the officer concerned to provide the service.
- In case of delay, the officer in charge will have to pay a fine to the tune of Rs. 250 per day, maximum of Rs. 5,000.
- The Appellate officer can also be penalized if he fails to ensure the delivery of service. He shall be fined to the tune of Rs. 500 per day, maximum of Rs. 5,000 if he is unable to give any valid reason for non delivery of services.
The Act will be instrumental in curbing corruption on the lower levels bureaucracy. If implemented in good order the Public Service Guarantee Act, 2010 shall make Madhya Pradesh a model state in terms of rendition of public services.