SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday announced that a comprehensive review of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA), 2011, will be conducted at his level every three months, based on departmental reports submitted to the Chief Secretary’s Office.
Chairing a high-level meeting attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and all Administrative Secretaries, the Chief Minister expressed concern over inconsistent monitoring of the PSGA at the departmental level. He directed that all departments must hold monthly review meetings under the chairmanship of their respective Administrative Secretaries to assess PSGA implementation.
“Departments must enforce strict timelines for service delivery. Delays without justified reasons must attract penalties as mandated by the Act. The spirit of the law lies in delivering services on time, without exception,” the Chief Minister asserted during the review.
The CM also flagged the misuse of discretionary powers by officials and called for strict adherence to defined timelines for service delivery. “The PSGA was enacted to eliminate arbitrariness in public administration. Where applications are rejected, departments must cite specific reasons to safeguard citizens’ right to appeal,” he added.
Addressing challenges such as budgetary constraints and technical issues with the PSGA portal, the Chief Minister said these matters would be reviewed separately and resolved accordingly. He reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards administrative laxity and underscored the importance of structured oversight mechanisms.
The meeting featured department-wise presentations on the status of PSGA implementation. Officials informed that 493 services are currently notified under the Act, with the Power Development Department accounting for 98 services, followed by Revenue (58), Finance (58), Transport (47), Housing & Urban Development (47), and Industries & Commerce (40). Other major contributors include the departments of Health, Education, Forest, and Agriculture.
The PSGA, notified on April 13, 2011, and followed by a formal set of rules on July 21, 2011, remains a cornerstone of citizen-centric governance in Jammu and Kashmir. The Act mandates timely service delivery, outlines responsibilities of designated officers, and includes a two-tier appellate structure for grievance redressal. Repeat violations by officials can lead to disciplinary action under the Act’s provisions.
