Need for a God father

 

 

Dear Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,

 

Subject:

Urgent Need for a Service Liability Act to Address Acts of Omission by Government Officers

 

I am writing to bring to your attention the pressing need for a Service Liability Act to hold public servants accountable for acts of omission that result in significant harm, including thousands of premature deaths annually across India.

These tragedies, caused by negligence, indecision, or systemic failures, demand urgent legislative action to ensure timely and accountable delivery of public services to citizens, much like the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) recent proposal for time-bound service delivery to businesses.

The CII has called for a central law to ensure Union ministries deliver services to businesses within stipulated timelines, with penalties for delays and a robust grievance redressal system, as reported by The Economic Times

While this is a commendable step for industries, individual citizens—often helpless and without a collective voice — require a similar mechanism to address the devastating impact of government inaction.

In my blog post, Needed: a Service Liability Act , I proposed a Service Liability Assessment Matrix ( SLAM ), an online platform or mobile app where citizens can rate government service failures based on parameters like extent of harm, coverage, time frame, economic impact, and perceived causes (negligence, poor decisions, or mala-fide intent).

The blog highlights how millions of Indians suffer premature deaths due to issues like water and air pollution, occupational hazards, and fake medicines—often attributable to "Crimes of Omission" by public servants. For instance, incidents like the electrocution of two boys due to live wires on a metal staircase reflect systemic failures that go unpunished.

A Service Liability Act could:

·         Prescribe clear punishments for public servants responsible for acts of omission causing harm, ranging from minor injuries to deaths.

·         Mandate time-bound service delivery to citizens, with deemed approvals and digital tracking for transparency.

·         Establish a multi-tiered grievance redressal system with compensatory payments for prolonged inaction.

·         Empower a National Citizens’ Forum (NCF), akin to CII for businesses, to advocate for citizens and ensure accountability.

The absence of such a law leaves citizens vulnerable, with no equivalent to the CII to champion their cause. By enacting a Service Liability Act, your government can address the thousands of preventable deaths caused annually by bureaucratic inaction, reinforcing your vision of a responsive and accountable governance system under India @100.

I urge you to consider this legislative reform to protect citizens and complement the CII’s proposed framework for businesses.

Your leadership in implementing bold reforms, such as the KAVACH railway safety system, inspires confidence that this issue will receive your urgent attention.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
hcp@RecruitGuru.com / www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.HemenParekh.ai / 30 July 2025

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