K Chandrasekhar Rao hints at law to fix accountability on Govt officials

Hyderabad: Telengana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has hinted at bringing in legislation that would ensure that government staff is held accountable for services offered to the public.

Inaugurating the district collectorate at Siddipet on Tuesday, the Chief Minister observed that together with the formation of the new district units, that were aimed at bringing the administration closer to the people, the government will also bring in legislation to make employees accountable.

Such legislation is in force when it comes to applications for setting up industries in the state. A penalty clause comes into effect if officers responsible for clearing various applications default.

“We understand that the Chief Minister wants to bring an Act — on the lines of TSiPass Act — to emp-ower the government to take action against those erring officials, who fail to address various public issues in a stipulated time,” TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar and MLC Pathuri Sudhakar Reddy told this newspaper.

They said presently there is no accountability on an officer for clearing various applications like seeking ration card, pension, scholarship, etc., within a stipulated time.

If a law in place, there will be statutory obligation on each and every employee to attend to various public issues. “Sometimes officials asks the public whoever approach them to go and verify their status online which is not possible for general public who are unable to access them,” he said.