The home department on Friday promulgated the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Ordinance 2015, making it mandatory for time-bound delivery of permissions and information.The ordinance covers 17 services. Soon, another is expected to include many more.For example, copies of FIRs must be given immediately after a complaint is lodged, attestation of documents must be done within seven working days, an NOC for passport verification must be issued within 21 working days, which is also the limit for NOCs for petrol pumps, gas agencies, hotels and bars, and police clearance certificate for foreign nationals should not take more than 30 days to be issued. “As per the ordinance, a specific time limit has been prescribed for 17 services. If the designated officer fails to grant permission or provide information within the time limit, the competent authority has powers to impose a penalty, ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 on the erring officer,“ said a bureaucrat.
Devendra Fadnavis, a month after taking charge as CM, said he was keen to bring in legislation to provide public services on time. A draft of the ordinance was circulated in February for public opinion, following which the Maharashtra Guarantee of Public Services Bill was introduced in both houses of the state legislature in April. Since it could not be passed, the ordinance was promulgated.
“Fadnavis had proposed to cover 160 services. The home department promulgated the ordinance to cover 17 services.Other departments will cover more,“ the bureaucrat said.
Jul 11 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai)
Prafulla Marpakwar
Consumer Resources 