Right to Service

The Kerala State Right to Service Act, 2012 came into force on the 1 November 2012 as per G.O (P) No.55/2012/P&ARD. It provides effective, time-bound redress of grievances of citizens, delivery of services to the public and making government servants liable in case of default. Through the induction of bill, the government servants are made answerable in terms of their functions, duties, commitments and obligations towards the people.

The Bill provides two-tier appellate system to redress grievances. Section 5 of the Bill underlines the duty of the designated officer, who on receipt of an application for service, will provide it or reject the application within the time limit, counted from the day the application is received. In case of rejection, the officer should justify it in writing. The designated officer is liable to pay a fine not less than Rs. 500 and not more than Rs. 5,000 in case of breach of terms of the bill.

Section 3 of the Bill says every government department, Head of the department, local self-government institution and statutory body should, within six months of the commencement of the Act, notify the services that will be rendered by each of them and the designated officers for providing services and the stipulated time limit for doing so. The Bill lays down the procedures for filing appeals and the method of handling appeals by the first and second appellate authorities. The two appellate authorities will have the powers of civil court in matters of requiring production and inspection of documents, issuing summons for hearing the designated officer and the appellant and any other matter that may be prescribed.

Services under Right to Service Act in Kerala Police

Sl No Service Activity Stipulated time Limit Designated Officer First Appellate Authority Second Applelalte Authority
1
 Mike Sanction 3 days District Police Office Sub Divisional Police Offices DCP(Admin)/ DySP(Admin)/ AC(Admin)/ DySP/AC concerned District Police Chief Range IsGP
2
 Procession Sanction(Wherever allowed and legal) 7 days within the District District Police Office DCP(Admin)/ DySP(Admin) / AC(Admin) District Police Chief Range IsGP
3
 Passport Enquiry 20 days Sub Divisional Police Offices Special Branch Office in Cities/Districts AC/DySP(Special Branch Office in Cities/Distircts) District Police Chief Range IsGP
4
 Pettion Enquiry 15 days from the date of receipt of application Police Station SHO Circle Inspector concerned AC/DySP concerned
Women Cell CI Women Cell DySP/AC Crime Detachment  District Polcie Chief
5
 Issuing receipt for receiving pettion Same day Police Station SHO Circle Inspector concerned DySP/AC concerned
Women Cell CI Women Cell DySP/AC Crime Detachment  District Polcie Chief
6
 Copy of FIR Same day Police Station SHO Circle Inspector concerned DySP/AC concerned
7
 Post Mortem Certificate 3 days from the date of receipt of PMC from the Medical authority Police Station SHO Circle Inspector concerned DySP/AC concerned
8
 Police Clearance Certificate Enquiry report 15 days District Police Office District Police Chief Cities/Districts Range IsGP ADGP, Zone concerned
9
 NOC for Arms & Explosive license 15 days  District Police Office Cities/Districts District Police Chief Cities/Districts Range IsGP ADGP, Zone concerned
10
 Job Verification 15 days Special Branch Offices in Cities/Districts AC/DySP(Special Branch Office in Cities/Distircts) District Police Chief Range IsGP
11
 Foreigners Registration 7 days District Police Office District Police Chief Cities/Districts Range IsGP ADGP, Zone concerned
12
 Releasing of vehicles taken into custody after completing formalitics 3 days Police Station SHO Circle Inspector concerned DySP/AC concerned
13
 Service of Summons and execution of warrants Before the posting date of the case Police Station sho Circle Inspector concerned DySP/AC concerned
14
 Enquiry of petitions regarding atrocites on SC/ST 10 days from the date of receipt of the petition by the concerned officer SMS Units & DySP/AC in SDPOs DySp/AC concerned District Police Chief Range IsGP