The Anna effect: Delhi babus to face salary cut?

New Delhi, Sep 15: Finally here comes a tough time for the Delhi babus since they no longer can take their leisure time to delay services to citizens. A legislation by the Delhi government that would come into force from today Thursday, Sep 15 states that the officials have to pay financial penalty for failing to respond to citizens' plea within given time frame.

It says that the penalty may vary from Rs 10 to Rs 200 a day. Although Delhi Assembly passed the 'Delhi Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services Bill' in March, 2011, its implementation comes close on the heels of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement and demand for a Citizens' Charter for government departments.

According to Chief secretary P K Tripathi, the government has made all preparations to implement the law and even allocated funds to the departments to pay the penalty to the citizens if officials fail to deliver the services within the time frame.

The government has also directed the departments to prepare citizens' charter which will be put up in the reception areas in the offices as well as in the websites.

OneIndia News