In a decisive move to improve public service delivery, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed all Administrative Secretaries to hold mandatory monthly review meetings to assess the implementation of the Jammu & Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA), 2011, in their respective departments.
Chairing a high-level review meeting attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretaries, and all departmental secretaries, the Chief Minister expressed concern over irregular monitoring and lax enforcement of PSGA provisions. He emphasized strict adherence to service delivery timelines and warned of penalties for unjustified delays.
“Monthly reviews at the secretary level are non-negotiable. Departments must implement the Act robustly. Delays without cause must attract penalties,” he said.
Omar Abdullah underscored that discretionary powers must not be misused and that service rejection should always include clear reasons to preserve the applicant’s right to appeal. “Don’t be soft,” he told officials, adding that the essence of the Act lies in delivering services on time without exceptions.
To strengthen accountability, the Chief Minister announced a quarterly PSGA review at his level, based on reports submitted to the Chief Secretary’s office.
The PSGA, notified in 2011, mandates timely delivery of 493 public services across various departments, including Power, Revenue, Finance, Transport, and Urban Development. The Act provides for penalties, appeals, and disciplinary action in case of repeated non-compliance.
Despite challenges like budgetary constraints and technical issues with the service portal, Omar Abdullah made it clear that these would be handled separately and should not obstruct service delivery.
The meeting also featured department-wise presentations on PSGA implementation status and challenges. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance approach to delays and arbitrary governance, reinforcing PSGA as a pillar of citizen-centric administration in Jammu & Kashmir.