TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Will the culture of passing the buck, red tape, legalistic and apathetic functioning of the bureaucracy change with the notification and implementation of the Goa (Right of Citizens to Time-Bound Delivery of Public Services) Act, 2013?
The Act promises all citizens of India residing in Goa right to access to the public services, time bound delivery of services and attempts to make civil servants liable for the actions.
The Act also promises transparency; performance of duties and functions by the designated officer and accountability of officers in case of deficiency in the public services. Citizens can also claim compensation from the designated officer for his failure to provide, or delay in providing public service.
On the lines of the RTI Act, its efficacy will now depend on the officers, who the government appoints to carry out the Act and not leave posts vacant as in currently happening with the Right to Information Act.
The specified time limit shall start from the date when an application is submitted by the citizen to the designated officer or to a person subordinate to him, authorised to receive the application for providing the public service.
All applications received by the designated officer or the authorized person, shall be duly acknowledged by putting an inward stamp specifying the inward number, date and time of receipt of such application, on the duplicate copy of such application.
On receipt of an application, the designated officer has to within specified time limit, either provide the public service or reject the application. There is however a proviso that in case of rejection of the application, the designated officer shall record the reasons thereof and inform the same to the applicant.
Any person, whose application has been rejected or who does not receive public service within the specified time limit, or where the public service received by him is deficient in any manner, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority, within 30 days from the date of rejection of the application or expiry of the specified time limit or receipt of deficient service, as the case may be.
If the appellate authority is of the opinion that the designated officer has failed to provide the public service to the eligible person or has caused delay in providing the public service or has provided the public service which is deficient in any manner, it may impose a fine on the designated officer of Rs 50 for each day or Rs 2,500, whichever is less, in case of failure to provide public service or of rupees fifty for each day of such delay or Rs 2,500, whichever is less, in case of delay in providing public service. The fine will be of Rs 500, in case of deficiency in delivery of public service, provided that before imposing such fine, the designated officer shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
According to the Act, the applicant is also eligible for compensation once it has been declared that the officer has to be fined. Whenever any officer or employee is out of station or on leave or off duty, the link officer concerned or his substitute, shall be responsible for disposal of such business. If the officer or employee concerned is on official duty outside the State and is unable to dispose off the same on account of such tour or assignment, the time specified in the schedule shall begin to run from the date such officer or employee joins his duties to the said post on return from the tour or assignment.
