Babus to face salary cut on failure to deliver service on time

Seen as a major reform in service delivery mechanism initiated by Delhi Government, the legislation fixes financial penalty in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 200 a day for failing to respond to citizens' plea within the stipulated time-frame.

Although Delhi Assembly passed the'Delhi Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services Bill' in March this year, its implementation comes close on the heels of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement and demand for a Citizens' Charter for government departments.

City Government officials claimed the provisions in the Delhi legislation are more stringent compared to similar legislations in states like Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

Chief Secretary P K Tripathi said the government has made all preparations to implement the law and even allocated funds to the departments to pay the penalty to the citizens if officials fail to deliver the services within the time frame.

Later, after following the set procedure, the penalty amount would be collected from the concerned officials.

The government has also directed the departments to prepare citizens' charter which will be put up in the reception areas in the offices as well as in the websites.

Almost all the government departments including Revenue, Food and Civil Supplies, Transport and Trade and Taxes as well as civic agencies MCD and NDMC have been brought under the legislation.