Only 5 districts in Punjab comply with citizen charter norms
Only 5 districts in Punjab comply with citizen charter norms
Only 5 districts in Punjab comply – The Punjab Transparency and Accountability Commission (PTAC) has taken notice of inadequate adherence to transparency standards in government departments, urging local administrators to promptly display citizen charter boards. Officials who fail to meet these requirements may face financial sanctions of up to ₹10,000, as per the commission’s directive.
Following a recent audit, the commission discovered that just five out of the 23 districts had submitted reports confirming the installation of citizen charter boards by April. Districts yet to comply are still awaiting their compliance forms, prompting further intervention.
On June 15, PTAC launched a state-wide review process, mandating updated action taken reports (ATRs) and visual documentation within 15 days. The commission highlighted gaps in several public offices, where the boards were either absent or improperly installed, weakening efforts to promote accountability in public services.
Scope of the initiative
Instructions apply to a broad spectrum of government entities, such as appellate bodies, designated officers, saanjh kendras, sewa kendras, and municipal institutions. These bodies are tasked with providing essential public services and must reflect this in their transparency measures.
The commission emphasized that the Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Services Act, enacted on July 17, 2018, requires services to be delivered within set timelines. It mandates that citizens be informed about service details, responsible officers, and procedures for lodging complaints.
Failure to comply with these directives could lead to legal proceedings under the 2018 Act, including penalties for officers not adhering to its provisions.
Officials were previously given 30 days to submit compliance reports and conduct inspections. However, the delayed responses from districts led to the commission issuing new instructions to expedite implementation.
Hillary Victor, a Special Correspondent for Chandigarh, reports on the city’s governance, municipal functions, and political landscape.