Right to Service becomes law in Kerala

Oommen Chandy | Express file photo
Oommen Chandy | Express file photo

With the Kerala assembly Wednesdaypassing the Right to Service Bill, 2012, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has kepthis promise of making available services to the people within a specified time.

Thirteen specified government services come under the ambitof the new law.

These are issue of certificates of birth and death;denomination of caste, income and domicile; electricity connection tohouseholds and commercial shops; domestic water connections and issue of rationcards.

The other services are receipts to complaints filed with thepolice; issue of a copy of the First Information Report; police intervention ingrievous crimes; time-bound verification of passport and employment status;issue of copy of post-mortem report and releasing of vehicles under custody.

The law guarantees delivery of specified services within astipulated time period and if this does not happen, a penalty will be imposedon the official concerned.

People can now avail these services at offices of concernedgovernment departments, local self-government institutions besides publicsector undertakings.

The assembly had taken up the Right to Service Bill fordiscussion Tuesday. It was to be discussed Wednesday too.

But with the opposition up in arms over another issue andthe assembly facing chaos, Speaker G. Karthikeyan quickly finished the listedbusiness for the day.

The assembly session ended Wednesday with Karthikeyanterming the session as a historic one.

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