Chief minister Nitish Kumar talks to his predecessor Jagannath Mishra (left) at the 10th anniversary celebrations of Human Rights Protection Foundation at Indira Gandhi Science Complex in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Sept. 4: Citizens could expect revisions to the recently implemented Right to Service Act, induction of more services under its ambit and reduced deadline for disposal of petitions. Chief minister Nitish Kumar said this at the 10th anniversary celebrations of Human Rights Protection Foundation at Indira Gandhi Science Complex today.

“The scope for further addition in the act was provided through the rules, so revision of the act is likely to happen after six to eight months of its implementation. The prescribed deadline for providing certain services may also be reduced and a few more services may be added to provide maximum benefit to the citizens,” said Nitish.

He added that the state government is also mulling to introduce electronic (online) approach under the Right to Service Act.

“Soon people would not even need to go to the government offices to avail most of the services as the state government is planning to introduce electronic applications for availing the services. Moreover, arrangement would also be made for the electronic delivery of services to the citizens within the prescribed deadlines,” said the chief minister.

Nitish’s promise came after a critical review of the act in the first 19 days of its implementation done by former chief secretary Vijay Shankar Dubey at the event today.

“Although the implementation of Right to Service Act is a revolutionary step taken by the government, there are certain loopholes in it which need to be looked at,” said Dubey pointing at the number of petitions disposed and those pending at the state- and block-level.