Penalty under RTS Act a warning for erring staff

Amarjit Thind/TNS

Ferozepur, November 23 For the first time in Punjab, and probably in the country, action has been taken against two officials for not clearing an application under the Right to Service Act within the stipulated time.

While other states in the country are in various phases of implementing the Act, it is in force in 10 states, including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, in some form or the other. The erring officials, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Jasbir Kaur and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) GS Pannu, have been fined Rs 500 each and departmental action has also been initiated against both of them. The maximum penalty under the Act is Rs 5,000. Local cantonment resident Maya Devi had approached the district Social Welfare Department for seeking old age pension. She had submitted her application on May 5, 2012, and the final decision had to be taken within a month under the provisions of the Act.

Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju decided on the matter by virtue of the Second Appellate Authority after the application was sent to him for action by the Right to Services (RTS) Commission. Raju said the applicant was a widow who had filed her application, which was to be decided as per norms by the Social Welfare Department. But it was not done, following which she moved an application before the SDM, who is also the First Appellate Authority.

Since nothing came out of if, she sent her grievance to the RTS Commission in Chandigarh, which, in turn, asked her to take up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner.

Both the officials were sent notices asking for their explanation for the delay and when none was received, he took action as per the provisions of the Act. Action was taken under Section 20-11, Para 9 (1) a, and Para 9 (3) of the Act against the CDPO and she was fined Rs 500. A similar fine was imposed on the SDM for not deciding on the case within the stipulated time.

That a strong message has gone down the line was evident as panic-stricken officials arrived at the district administrative complex voluntarily to disclose the pendency/status of such applications in their departments. An official said they were under the impression that the state was serious in strict implementation of the Act. He cited staff shortage for not processing such applications in addition to the replies they had to give under the RTI Act.

Pannu said he was yet to receive any notice in this context and would be able to comment only after checking with his office about the latest position. “I am on duty in a neighbouring district and will reach Ferozepur by evening,” he said. 

setting an example The penalised officials GS Pannu, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ferozepur Jasbir Kaur, Child Development Project Officer, Ferozepur Rs 500 fine on each of the officials and initiation of departmental action The maximum penalty under the Right to Service Act is Rs 5,000 What they failed to do Maya Devi, a widow of Ferozepur Cantonment, had approached first Jasbir Kaur and then GS Pannu with her application for old age pension, but both the officials failed to act within the stipulated time period.