Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Maharashtra unveils public services bill
BackBack

Maharashtra unveils public services bill

As per the bill's provisions, citizens may sue state officials for not meeting deadlines for delivering a slew of services

The state government on Tuesday published a draft of the Maharashtra Guarantee of Public Service Bill, 2015, on its website and invited suggestions and objections on its provisions. Photo: S. Kumar/MintPremium
The state government on Tuesday published a draft of the Maharashtra Guarantee of Public Service Bill, 2015, on its website and invited suggestions and objections on its provisions. Photo: S. Kumar/Mint

Mumbai: Maharashtra is on its way to becoming the latest state to grant its citizens the right to sue government officials for failing to meet deadlines set for delivering a slew of services.

The state government on Tuesday published a draft of the Maharashtra Guarantee of Public Service Bill, 2015, on its website and invited suggestions and objections on its provisions.

The passage of the bill will make Maharashtra the 20th out of 29 states to give such powers to citizens.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the current coalition government in Maharashtra, had promised such an Act in assembly elections held last year.

In its first cabinet meeting on 31 October, the government passed a resolution to appoint a committee under chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya to draft the bill. On 26 January, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched one more initiative aimed at increasing transparency in governance—a mobile app called Aple Sarkar (our government), which can be used by citizens to register complaints against government departments. The app allows citizens to check the status of complaints and assures time-bound action and reply.

Speaking with reporters after the first cabinet meeting, Fadnavis said the government plans to introduce the bill in the budget session of state assembly that begins on 9 March.

A senior official from the chief minister’s office who did not want to be named said, “The bill not only imposes penalty on erring officials but also makes a provision to identify habitual offenders and take stricter disciplinary action. And it also offers an incentive to officials whose record in meeting targets is unblemished."

The state BJP spokesman Keshav Upadhyay said, “the party welcomes the state government’s decision; but Maharashtra, which prides itself as a progressive state, should have been in front of bringing such regulation, and because of 15 years of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party’s misrule, the state has lagged on many fronts. including on this issue."

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 27 Jan 2015, 11:52 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App