Bihar's Right to Service Bill to ensure public utility

22 Feb, 2011, 12.18AM IST, Ashok K Mishra,ET Bureau
Bihar's Right to Service Bill to ensure public utility

PATNA: The Bihar government has prepared the draft of the Right to Service Bill, which will be introduced in the ensuing budget session of the state legislature.

The bill envisages punishment to officials if public utility service is not delivered within a time-frame. "The legislation will provide for punishment clause which could be anything from fine to bad service entry if concerned officials are found lax in ensuring delivery of public utility service within a stipulated time frame," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of the Janata Darbar at his official residence on Monday.

The Right to Service Bill is expected to weed out corruption, besides cutting into bureaucratic red tape. "The government will identify services which will have to be delivered within a stipulated time. There will be no excuses in non-delivery of the service. As of now, people often have to wait for days or bribe officials for procuring an age or caste certificate or land possession certificate," Kumar said.

The government's decision to adopt zero tolerance on corruption forced it to mull on several initiatives which it says will help curb corruption at the government level.

It has already put in place the Special Court Act which will empower the government to confiscate buildings of officials facing corruption charges even during trial stage. The government has declared it would open schools in confiscated buildings.

The government has also directed ministers and officials to declare assets, which will come under public scrutiny. Ministers have already furnished details of their property and IAS and IPS officials, besides Class II and III officials have been asked to furnish the details by February 28.