This could spell the end of touts who seek a bribe every time citizens go to get birth, caste, death or income certificates under Right to Public Service Act (RTPS).

Chief minister Nitish Kumar has asked for installing web cameras at the counters to watch the applicant and the office staff assigned to receive the application. The move comes after many citizens complained to him during his Seva Yatra that touts were demanding bribes from applicants with the tacit support of office staff.

Soon, district magistrates would monitor the web cameras that would capture the photograph of both applicant and office staff at the district level, while the principal secretary, general administration department, or any official assigned by him would do so at the state headquarters, a senior official of the general administration department (GAD) said. “The touts can be identified with the help of web cameras,” he said.

Munger district magistrate Narendra Kumar Singh told The Telegraph that the device would help capture “people moving around government offices and luring people to extort them on the pretext of delivering quick service.” A person visiting a particular counter frequently would be caught and legal action initiated against him/her. The credentials of the public servant receiving application from such persons at the counter will also be verified.

All district magistrates have been asked to get web cameras installed at the counters under their jurisdiction at the earliest. Funds for the purpose have already been provided. In fact, the scheme has already been launched in 10 districts of the state, among them Kishanganj, Katihar, Jehanabad and Munger.

Munger district magistrate Singh said only four counters in his district have been equipped with web cameras. “Efforts are on to equip all counters.” Sources in the headquarters said that the state required over 2,000 web cameras to cover all the 38 revenue districts. Each camera would cost Rs1,200-1,500.

A number of district officials complained about shortage of web cameras as “demand has suddenly gone up”.

Kishanganj district magistrate Aditya Kumar Das said web cameras have been installed at 26 counters in his district. Two cameras each had been installed at counters in seven blocks and the rest at counters in the district headquarters.

“As the web camera of a particular company is out of stock, we have asked DMs to purchase the device manufactured by other companies,” an officer said. Munger district magistrate Singh said he has asked block officials to purchase cameras from selected companies at the earliest.

Around 4.40 crore applicants for birth, caste, death, income certificates have been received under RTPS since the Act came into force in the state on August 15, 2011. Authorities claimed that of them, 4.32 crore applications were disposed of.