Nationwide frustration arising from large-scale corruption by people in authority erupted in a wave of protests two years ago. Legislative remedies proposed as a response to public anger, such as the Lokpal and the Lokayuktas in all States, have still not become a reality. Adding to the aam aadmi’s sense of outrage, another important legislation that aims at ending administrative gridlock and corruption has run into political troubles. The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011, can potentially empower citizens, erase the feeling of impunity among public authorities and bring in accountability. This the Bill seeks to achieve by requiring institutions, including companies with statutory obligations, to specify the services to be provided under a citizens’ charter, fix a time-limit for delivery, and crucially, levy penalties and award compensation through a redress mechanism for wilful default. The Bill seeks to do for delivery of public goods and services what the Right to Information Act has done for access to official data and documents. Such a forward-looking effort to put the onus of service on the official machinery should not be held hostage to narrow politics.
The major political argument being raised against the Grievance Redressal Bill is that it affects the federal scheme of legislative power of the States, by prescribing a system that is not in consonance with the Constitution. That question has been addressed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its report on the Bill, with the observation that both Parliament and legislatures have the power to legislate, under Article 246 (2) on matters in the concurrent list; the Centre only wants to bring in a law to address ‘actionable wrongs,’ which is in the list. Also, citizens must enjoy rights relating to public services that are comparable to private providers covered by the Consumer Protection Act. Opposition to the proposed law from parties such as the BJP therefore rings hollow, particularly when citizen-friendly and more comprehensive State laws on time-bound services are not available. In fact, the Standing Committee makes the valid point that the time-limit of 30 days to provide a service need not be uniform, since speedier relief is often possible. It is beyond debate that bottlenecks in the processing of passports, revenue records, house plan approvals, transport and trade licences, and municipal services, to name just a few, have created a corrupt system that endlessly harasses the citizen. Political parties that opportunistically oppose the Bill are obstructing genuine reform.
Keywords: Anti-corruption protests, Lokpal, State Lokayuktas, Right for time-bound delivery bill, citizens’ charter, Right to Information Act
dear sir
here is a case of empowerment of the common man by the bombay high
court which made a ruling on illegal hoardings defacing the city .
Many thanks are due to the welcome direction of the esteemed bombay
high court on the illegal hoardings which were defacing this city .The
Pune Municipal Corporation had no alternative to act and remove these
without any politicians hindrance.It would be helpful if these
hoardings often put up by unsocial elements are brought to book with
stringent punishment so that no politician uses his power to put up
such illegal hoardings.A visit to any middle east country like dubai
or singapore will convice our hard headed political class how a city
can become a world class city .Pune city needs better governance
It seems that the opposition to the proposed bill is more connected
with the elections due next year rather than their love for
federalism. They just do not want UPA to take the credit away by
bringing in a legislation which would have brought in some relief to
the common citizens like us. This is not the first instance when the
opposition parties have opposed a bill in the name of federalism. We
all know what happened with Lokpal and the all-important NCTC. On one
hand the opposition parties attack the government on corruption and
being soft on terror and on the other hand they oppose the same bills
which are brought to counter these things. The opposition parties must
be told that our Constitution might be federal in character but then
it is unitary in spirit and that they have no right to kill bills
which might bring in a sense of relief to the common citizenry however
little it might be.
History shows that the Revolutions had taken place at ground level and subsequent reforms in the upper echlons of power, if it has been the other way that the reforms at ground level and revolution at upper level the picture would have been beautiful..
Empowerment of citizens without regulation,speed and assurance of no
twisting and no flexibility of work laws and code of conduct.Still more
needs to be put together in the citizen friendly system as pointed by
the text.
Present bill is binding in nature for states & thus an encroachment on
the rights given to the states under federal structure. Currently more
than 10 states have their own citizen charter law in place. Some of
them are stronger than centre's bill, doesn't replacement result in
dilution of existing rules. Central government on its part can make it
a model law which can be followed by states which yet not have a
citizen's charter. As far as opportunistic behavior is concerned fast
clearing of pending populist bills without looking at practical
implications seems more intended to winning votes rather than solving
genuine grievance of common people.
all the above said biils and act are complementary to each
other.seventh schedule should be use for nation building purpose
instead of road breaker.
The arguments for time-bound access of services is totally valid from a citizen's perspective.The lack of such a law very nearly empowers agencies to take its time, be complacent towards the need of the common man. Most citizens with means then resort to bribes - This indirect extortion adversely affects any possibility of relief for the poor who are not able to corruption.
Hindu should take up this campaign in a big way. This bill,will make a big difference to the common man, in dealing with the Govt. machinery. We may not miss this golden opportunity to shake the bureaucracy. In my opinion, this bill will be more effective than the RTI act. All well meaning citizens and activists should create pressure so that no political party dares to find excuses to oppose this which will only do good and no harm to anyone except the corrupt.
The work of the opposition is only to create hindrance in any good or bad work proposed by govt. BJP's stance in this matter is shameful. If the citizen of India getting benefit from such type of laws then everyone should support this.
I am agreement with the views expressed in edit. The new legislation
in the form of citizens’ charter is welcome. But let us not forget
that mere enactment of a new law would not change the existing
scenario in many government departments who are supposed to follow the
law. We have seen how good legislation in the form of Right to
Information Act and the Consumer Protection Act has not been
successful in bringing about desirable changes in the attitude of the
bureaucracy or of suppliers of goods and services to consumers at
large. Hence we need to study past experience about the two Acts
mentioned above and then take suitable steps to ensure that ‘Right of
Citizens for Time Bound delivery of Goods & Services Act’ becomes a
successful legislation and fulfills the citizens’ demand about time-
bound delivery of goods and services.
Whether the proposed legislation will improve the situation or not only time will tell.
In most cases it is the lower level bureaucracy, which in most cases are politicalised,
is where there are delays and where they are rarely accountable. The concept of
"speed money' which had their origin elsewhere has become a part of the
Bureaucratic culture. In the process the quality of decisions also become suspect.
Redressal of grievances and speedy and timely actions are possible only when the
political class is also accountable. That implies that they must be aware of what is
happening and must spend the time and inclination to GOVERN. The trade unions of
Government Servants must subscribe and commit to the objectives of the bill and
must undertake to ensure compliance. Above all, there is a an urgent need to
SIMPLIFY procedures and Processes.Can they? Will they ?
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