CITIZEN'S CHARTER

                             Citizen Charter

• Citizen Charter is that document which provides various information and rights to citizens and also ensures the accountability of public servants.

NOTE - This is not justiciable in court.

Elements of Citizen Charter -

(1) Objectives, Goals, Vision of the Organization. 

(2) Names of Services. 

(3) Division of Work. 

(4) Time period for performing service or work. 

(5) Grievance Redressal Process.

Importance

(1) Accountability of public servants is ensured. 

(2) Increase in Public Awareness. 

(3) Increase in Transparency in Public Administration. 

(4) Reduction in Corruption. 

(5) Effective medium of Public Grievance Redressal.

(6) Increase in public trust towards administration. 

(7) Increase in public participation in government programs and schemes.

 Development of Citizen Charter

(1) Citizen Charter was started in 1991 by John Major from Britain.

(2) Charter Mark Scheme was also associated with Citizen Charter in Britain.

(3) In India, its demand was first made by an NGO named 'Common Cause'. * Whose head is H.D. Shourie.

(4) Discussion on the start of Citizen Charter was first held in the Conference of Chief Secretaries                                    organized in New Delhi in 1996. * (Theme - 'Nine Point Action Plan' Conference).

(5) In 1997, it was discussed again in the Conference of Chief Ministers. * At that time the Prime Minister of              India was Indra Kumar Gujral.

(6) First Ministry of India where Citizen Charter was implemented - Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies                      (1997).

(7) First Department of Rajasthan Government where Citizen Charter was implemented - Food and Civil               Supplies Department of Rajasthan Government - 1998. * (CM - Ashok Gehlot).

• Citizen Charter Bill was brought by the Government of India in 2011. (Was not passed).