Implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act, 2011: An Overview

Abstract

In an age of modernisation and globalisation, the effective management of the public services is of great importance for the citizens. Various problems are seen with regard to the management of public services and facilities provided to the citizens. For instance, who is responsible for the particular public service delivery to people? Whether the delivery of public service are in transparent manner or not? What will be the time frame? Who will be accountable for public service delivery? Whether the delivery of public services is citizen-friendly or not? And improving the delivery of public services is the need of the hour. In context to the delivery of public services, developed states like the USA, UK, Japan, Australia and Europe have enacted public services guarantee laws. The developing countries like India, Brazil and others have been adopted the same mechanism for the management of public services. The Government of India has introduced Citizen's Charter in 1997 and the Public Services Guarantee Act in 2011. In continuation of the Act, various states’ assemblies have passed the act which guaranteed services for citizens. Among them, Jammu and Kashmir state assembly also passed Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act in 2011. The article covers various aspects of Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act (JKPSGA), 2011 which is divided into three sections: the first section explains the evolution of Public Service Guarantee Act 2011, the second section discusses the Right to Public Services Act and the present status of Public Service Delivery mechanism in various government departments of Jammu and Kashmir and the last section discusses problems in implementation of Public Service Guarantee Act in Jammu and Kashmir and suggestion for the better implementation.