UT Admn notifies 182 services of depts under Right to Service Act

In a major step towards strengthening citizen-centric governance, the UT Administration has notified time-bound delivery of 182 services across various departments under the Punjab Right to Service Act as extended to the Union Territory.

The notification lays out the timelines, designated officers and appellate authorities to ensure quicker and more accountable public service delivery. The stipulated time limit fixed for delivery of services will start from the date of submission of application, along with the entire requisite documents complete in all respects. Each department head, or a nominated official, will serve as the nodal authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act.

According to the notification, the Regional Employment Office will now register applicants within one day. The Industries Department has fixed 15-day deadline for redress of grievances of existing/prospective investors and approvals for participation in trade fairs and exhibitions and 30-day timeline for registration of boilers.

The Labour Department has fixed time limit for 21 services covering labour, factory, migrant workmen and construction worker regulations. These include 30 days for registration of establishments employing migrant workers, one day for registration shops or commercial establishments, 45 days for approval of factory building plans, seven days for issuance of factory licences and 30 days for renewal of factory licence and providing welfare benefits under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act.

The Police Department has introduced time-bound services, including a five-minute response time to reach the scene of an offence on information, one hour to supply a copy of an FIR or DDR and 30 minutes to register a complaint and provide a copy. Services such as passport verification, tenant and domestic help verification, and issuance of character certificates must now be completed within 15 days, while post-mortem reports are required to be supplied within two days of receipt from a medical officer. A preliminary inquiry of an office at a police station to be conducted within 90 days.

The MC has added new time limits for 101 civic services through the Gati Shakti portal.

The office of the Registrar, Co-operative Societies, will now process registration of co-operative societies within 30 days. Timelines of 30 days have also been set for permissions related to sale deeds, transfer of leasehold rights and family transfer deeds. NOCs for sale, transfer of membership or registration of conveyance deeds will be issued within seven to 15 days, and changes in membership records will be carried out in 10 days. In cases requiring coordination with the Chandigarh Housing Board or Estate Office, structured internal timelines have been prescribed to prevent delays.

The Sports Department has introduced new service deadlines, including 10 days for booking stadia, seven days for issuing user or membership approvals, 180 days for processing scholarships for sportspersons and 90 days for issuing gradation certificates.

The Chandigarh SC, BC & Minorities Financial & Development Corporation will now process loan applications for SC, BC, minority communities and safai karamcharis within 30 days, vocational training applications within 20 days, admission to senior citizens home in Sector 15-D within 20 days and issuance of no-dues certificates within 30 days.

The State Agricultural Marketing Board has notified 45-day deadlines for issuance and renewal of licences under Section 10 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, and 20 days for those under Section 13. Applications will be processed by market committee or joint secretary.

The Zila Sainik Welfare Office has also been brought into the RTS framework, with new timelines and designated officers for services related to ex-servicemen and their dependents.