Corrupt Bihar babus in for hard times

A draft Right to Service Bill has been put on the anvil by the government that envisages a stipulated timeframe for delivering important services to its citizens including birth and death certificates. This would mean any government official sitting inordinately long over a file for issuing a birth certificate, a ration card or power connection, could land himself in jail.

After the Bill, which is likely to be introduced in the next session of the Assembly, becomes a law, any citizen, so far used to waiting inordinately and making frequent trips to government offices and even paying bribe for simple work, will be entitled to demand service within a stipulated timeframe. The bill stipulates strict censures and punishments to officials who fail to deliver.

“People have a right to seek public utility services. The officials concerned are duty bound to deliver such services. But in practice, are unnecessary kept waiting for days and even asked to cough up money for simple work,” said Nitish adding the new legislation will ensure that officials, who fail to deliver, will be liable for punishment.

This bill is in addition to Bihar Special Court Act 2009 which enables the Government to confiscate the property of corrupt officials even at trial stage.

Already, 14 officials, including two IAS officers S S Verma and KP Singh and ex-DGP Narain Mishra have been punished under the Act. The Bihar government had declared it would open schools for children in confiscated buildings.  “We had promised to open schools in buildings confiscated under the Bihar Special Court Act, and we will deliver on it very soon,” said Nitish.

 Cracking the whip

- Right to Service Bill envisages a stipulated timeframe for delivering services including birth and death certificates
- Officers failing to deliver liable for punishment 
- The bill is in addition to Bihar Special Court Act 2009 which enables Government to confiscate the property of corrupt officials