Delhi Assembly on Thursday passed the Delhi (Right Of Citizen To Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill, a piece of legislation that will automatically deduct salaries of babus in cases of delay in delivering government services on their part.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was not present in the Assembly, described the passage of the Bill as a "huge victory" in the fight against corruption and lamented his inability to attend the House on the occasion due to ill-health. The Bill, among its other provisions, seeks to ensure that every government department puts out "comprehensive citizens charter", within 30 days of its notification and that the responsibility is fixed with HODs. The Bill also encourages government departments, local bodies to adopt the e-governance platform to deliver their respective citizen related services in prescribed time period through electronic means aimed at bringing transparency.

Presently, there are a total of 371 services, that covers almost all departments, under the ambit of the legislation that was enacted during the tenure of Sheila Dikshit. "Congrats Delhi. Delhi Assembly passes the Delhi (Right Of Citizen To Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill, 2015 unanimously. A huge victory in our fight against corruption. It is beginning of end of cutting edge corruption that aam admi faces daily in his life," Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.

Congrats Delhi. Del Assembly passes the Delhi (Right Of Citizen To Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill, 2015 unanimously(1/3) — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 26, 2015

A huge victory in our fight against corruption. It is beginning of end of cutting edge corruption that aam admi faces daily in his life(2/3) — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 26, 2015

I wish i cud be present in assembly today. Was indisposed due to fever(3/3) November 26, 2015

The government said that the amendments seek to rectify the current Act which has put the "entire onus" of getting compensation, fixing the responsibility for delayed services on the citizen. The Bill envisages entrusting a 'Competent Officer', person not below the rank of Deputy Secretary, with the purpose of effecting payment of compensation to an individual and recovery of the compensation from the officer or person responsible. "It shall be the duty of the concerned competent officer to ensure that the compensation is paid to the applicant within days as prescribed under the rules on which the service is provided failing which the citizen shall be paid double the said amount and it shall be deducted from the salary of the competent authority," an official statement said.

Speaking in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that common man won't have to make rounds of MLAs and officials due to the passage of the legislation. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, who abstained from voting, asked Sisodia to spell out the amount of fine to be recovered. It also keeps aside a service performance incentive fund to encourage officials by offering them rewards for ensuring timely service delivery.