Maharashtra yet to list how many services it provides

The wait to get all services provided by authorities in state in a time bound manner will get longer. Even the master list, which was to be put out by the state that would tell just how many services are provided by the authorities, is yet to be out. The Right to Services Commission (RTSC) in a landmark order on January 9, 2018, had asked the state government to put in public domain the master list of all services that public authorities provide to citizens in three months.

Along with that, a 'time table', indicating stages and time frame within which all services will be provided, was expected to be ready in another month's time. However, that in itself does not mean that citizens would get the services under the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015, in four month's time. The idea was to know just how many services are provided by the authorities. Without notifying, a service cannot be sought under the Act by eligible applicants.

"I think they are doing more showmanship than actual work. The Commission had given recommendation that all services have to be notified and a master list has to be prepared in three months. The three months are just about over. Where is the actual output of the Act," said Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner, who had approached the commission when all services were not notified. Gandhi has even criticised the recommendatory power of RTSC, but chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the government will 'seriously work on it'.

When contacted, Swadheen Kshatriya, chief of RTSC in an sms response said: "No request for extension received." Chief minister Fadnavis did not respond to a query sent by DNA.

Gandhi had complained to the commission that it cannot be legislative intent to allow public authorities in an arbitrary manner to decide which services to notify and that such a manner was 'perverse'. Gandhi had said that the services were already being given and that they needed to be codified for them to be given in a timely manner. The Act penalises officials for failing to give services in time.

IN PUBLIC DOMAIN

• Right to Services Commission had asked the state govt to put in public domain a master list of all services that public authorities provide to citizens. 
   
• Time table, indicating stages & time frame within which all services will be provided, was expected to be ready in another month’s time.