PUNJAB RIGHT TO PUBLIC SERVICES ACT, 2019

Exact source transcription retained, including print layout and extraction artifacts. Text SHA-256: 5761e92d60b4efbb5f438eb6fed8a6a9c66e9d5c3255110913f5dda3e5933bda.

THE PUNJAB RIGHT TO PUBLIC SERVICES ACT, 2019 
(I of 2019) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Right to public services 
4. Notification of public services and time limit 
5. Provision of public service within the specified time limit 
6. Appeal 
7. Time frame for disposal 
8. Powers of Appellate Authority 
9. Display of public services 
10. E-governance of services 
11. Penalty for not providing public service 
12. Penalty for not deciding the appeal within the specified time 
13. Compensation 
14. Disciplinary action 
15. Acknowledgment of good performers 
16. Establishment of the Punjab Right to Public Services Commission 
17. Powers of the Commission 
18. Staff and officers to be public servants 
19. Power to issue directions 
20. Punishment for frivolous complaints 
21. Deposit of fines and fees 
22. Protection of action taken in good faith 
23. Act to have overriding effect 
24. Power of the Commission to send applica tions to the Appellate 
Authority directly 
25. Bar of jurisdiction of Courts 
26. Power to make rules 
2 
27. Power to frame regulations 
28. Power to remove difficulties 
 
 
3 
 
 
TEXT 
1THE PUNJAB RIGHT TO PUBLIC SERVICES ACT, 2019 
(I of 2019) 
[22nd January, 2019] 
An 
Act 
to provide for delivery of public services to the people within the stipulated time limit. 
It is necessary to provide for delivery of public services to the people within 
the stipulated time limit, including liabilities of the government servants in case of 
default, administrative efficiency and for the matters connected therewith and 
ancillary thereto; 
 Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Right to Public Services Act 2019. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
 (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by 
notification in t he official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for 
different provisions of the Act. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Right to Public Services Act 2019; 
(b) “Appellate Authority” means the concerned Administrative Secretar y of 
the department or such other person or authority, as may be specified 
by the Government through notification in the official Gazette; 
(c) “Authority” means: 
(i) any department or attached department of the Government and 
subordinate offices thereof; 
(ii) any offic e, Board, Commission, Council or any other body 
established by, any law for the time being in force; 
(iii) all institutions, established or constituted under the Punjab Local 
Government Act 2013 (XVIII of 2013); 
(iv) subordinate Courts and Tribunals; 
(v) a body which is owned, controlled or substantially funded by the 
Government, including enterprises owned by the Province by 
whatever name called, required to render any services of public 
utility or to control, manage or regulate public services within a 
specified local area; and 
(vi) any other body which undertakes public services; 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 14 January 2019; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab 
on 21 January 2019; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 22 January 2019, pp.1707 – 1713. 
4 
(d) “Commission” means the Punjab Right to Public Services  
Commission, constituted under the Act; 
(e) “department” means a department of the Government, established 
under the Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2011; 
(f) “designated officer" means an officer designated under section 4 of the 
Act; 
(g) “e-governance” means the use by the Government of web -based 
internet applications together with other information technologies, 
combined with processes that implement these technologies, to: 
(i) enhance the access to and delivery of the Government 
information and services to the public, other agencies and other 
Government entities; or 
(ii) bring about improvements in the Government operations   that 
may include effectiveness, e fficiency, service quality, or 
transformation; 
(h) “eligible person” means a person domiciled in the Punjab and having 
any accrued right to public service in the Province and shall include 
corporations, companies, firms, businesses and organizations working 
in the Punjab; 
(i) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules and the regulations made 
under the Act; 
(k) “public service ” means any service or services notified by the 
Government under section 4 of the Act; 
(l) “regulations” means regulations framed under the Act; 
(m) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; and 
(n) “specified time limit ” means the time limit within which the designated 
officer is required to provide service as specified under subsection (1) 
of section 4 of the Act. 
3. Right to public services .– (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, every 
eligible person shall have a right to public services. 
(2) The right conferred under subsection (1) shall include the right to: 
(a) have access to the public service; 
(b) receive the public service within a specified time limit; 
(c) receive the public service in a transparent manner; 
(d) demand performance of duties and functions by the designated 
officers in accordance with the provisions of the Act;  
(e) hold the concerned designated officer account able for any 
service deficiency in the public service; and 
(f) claim compensation from the concerned designated officer for 
his failure to provide, or delay in providing a public service. 
4. Notification of public services and time limit .– (1) The Government m ay, 
by notification in the official Gazette, from time to time, specify any service to be a 
public service, for the purposes of the Act and also specify, by a notification, the time 
5 
limit within which such services shall be provided by the designated offic er to the 
eligible persons. 
 (2) For providing public services specified under subsection (1), the 
Government may, by notification, designate different officers for different public 
services, at tehsil, district, division, d epartment or  at any other approp riate level ,  
who shall be responsible for providing each of such service to the eligible persons. 
(3) While specifying the time limit for provision of any public service, in 
order to arrive at an informed decision, the Government may invite and receive 
recommendations from all related public functionaries, as well as general public 
through prior publication of the proposed time limit along with a precise description of 
such service. 
5. Provision of public service within the specified time limit .– (1) The 
designated officer shall provide public services to the eligible persons within the time 
limit as may be specified in the notification issued under subsection ( 1) of section 4 
of the Act. 
(2) The specified time limit shall start from the date when an applic ation is 
submitted by the eligible person to the designated officer or to a person subordinate 
to him, authorized to receive the application for providing the public service. 
(3) All applications received by the designated officer or the authorized 
person, shall be duly acknowledged by putting an inward stamp specifying the 
inward number, date and time of receipt of such application on the duplicate copy of 
such application. 
(4) On receipt of an application under subsection (3), the designated officer, 
shall, within the specified time limit, either provide the public service or reject the 
application: 
Provided that in case of rejection of the application, the designated officer shall 
record reasons thereof and intimate the same to the applicant. 
6. Appeal.– (1) Any person, whose application has been rejected under 
subsection (4) of section 5 of the Act, or who does not receive public service within 
the specified time limit, or where the public service received by him is deficient in 
any manner, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority, within a period of thirty 
days from the date of such rejection or expiry of the specified time limit or receipt of 
deficient service, as the case may be. 
(2) The Appellate Authority shall dispose of the appeal preferred u nder 
subsection (1) within a period of thirty days from the date of presentation of the 
appeal. 
(3) The Appellate Authority may direct the designated officer to provide the 
public service within such period of time as it may specify but not more than the t ime 
specified in the notification or to remove the deficiency in public service provided to 
the appellant or to pass such other order, including rejection of the appeal, as it may 
deem fit: 
Provided that before passing any order under subsection (3), the A ppellate 
Authority shall provide an opportunity of being heard to the appellant and to the 
designated officer. 
(4) In case the appellant or the designated officer is aggrieved of a final order 
passed under subsection (3), he may prefer an appeal to the Com mission, within 
fifteen days of issuance of such final order of the Appellate Authority. 
6 
7. Time frame for disposal.– (1) An appeal under subsection (4) of section 6 of 
the Act, shall be disposed of within thirty days of the receipt of appeal. 
(2) Any other matter or complaint, to be adjudicated by the Commission, may 
be disposed of, within a period of sixty days, from the date of receipt of such 
complaint or entrustment of such matter, as the case may be. 
8. Powers of Appellate Authority .– The Appellate Au thority shall, while  
deciding an appeal under section 6 of the Act, have the same powers as are vested 
in the Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 ( V of 1908), in respect of 
the following matters: 
(a) requiring the production and inspection of documents; 
(b) issuing summons for hearing to the designated officer and the 
appellant; 
(c) requisitioning any public records or copies thereof from any 
Government office; 
(d) levying of fine or compensation upon the concerned designated 
officer to pay compensation; 
(e) directing the designated officer to pay compensation to the 
eligible person; and 
(f) any other matter which may be prescribed by the rules. 
9. Display of public services .– The details of the designated officers, public 
services and the specified time l imit thereof shall be displayed locally on the notice 
board in every Authority and notified in the official Gazette and if possible, also on 
the website of the concerned Authority, for the information of the general public. 
10. E-governance of services.– The Government shall endeavor and encourage 
all the authorities required under the Act to deliver to the eligible persons, the public 
services within the specified time limit, as a part of e-Governance. 
11. Penalty for not providing public service.– (1) If the Appellate Authority is of 
the opinion that  the designated officer has failed to provide a public service to the 
eligible person within the specified time limit or has caused delay in providing the 
public service or has provided the public service, whic h is deficient in any manner, 
the Appellate Authority shall by notice, call upon the designated officer to show 
cause, within thirty days of the receipt of such notice, for failure to provide such 
public service. 
(2) If, after having considered the cause, if any shown by the designated 
officer, the Appellate Authority opines that the designated officer has acted in the 
manner as provided in subsection (1), the Appellate Authority shall, impose a fine on 
such designated officer which may extend to rupees twe nty five thousand but shall 
not be less than rupees five hundred. 
12. Penalty for not deciding the appeal within the specified time.– Where the 
Commission is of the opinion that the Appellate Authority has failed to decide the 
appeal within the time limit specified in subsection (2) of section 6, without any 
sufficient or reasonable cause, it may impose a fine on the Appellate Authority, 
which shall not be less than rupees one thousand but may extend to rupees twenty 
five thousand: 
Provided that before impo sition of such fine, the Appellate Authority shall be 
given a reasonable opportunity of being heard by the Commission. 
7 
13. Compensation.– On imposition of fine under section 11 or section 12, the 
Appellate Authority or the Commission, as the case may be, b y order, direct that a 
portion of such fine imposed, as it may deem fit, be awarded to the aggrieved 
person, as compensation: 
Provided that the amount of such compensation awarded shall not exceed 
seventy percent of the amount of fine imposed. 
14. Disciplinary action.– In addition to the imposition of fines under section 11 
or section 12, the Commission may, if it is satisfied that the designated officer or the 
Appellate Authority, as the case may be, has failed to discharge the duties assigned 
to him under the Act without sufficient or reasonable cause, recommend disciplinary 
action against him under the relevant law and the rules for the time being in force. 
15. Acknowledgment of good performers .– (1) The Government, may by 
notification or otherwise, maint ain and publish from time to time but at least once in 
every quarter, a roll of honour, acknowledging the names of those designated 
officers and other Government servants appearing on it, who have been consistently 
performing well either in providing publi c services timely and in  efficient manner, or 
have been reputed for discharging their administrative duties and disposal of case 
work, adequately and within prescribed time as envisaged under the Act. 
(2) The Government may prescribe independent evaluation criteria, designate 
an independent panel of evaluators from amongst members of Commission or 
otherwise and devise a comprehensive policy for the purposes of acknowledgment 
of the services of good performers, as laid down in subsection (1): 
Provided that while prescribing the policy, the Government may, amongst other 
things to acknowledge the services of good performers and promote the culture of 
efficient and timely service delivery, also prescribe and approve cash rewards for the 
best performers. 
16. Establishment of the Punjab Right to Public Services Commission .– (1) 
The Government shall, by notification in the official Gazette, establish an 
independent Commission to be known as the Punjab Right to Public Services 
Commission, to exercise the jurisdiction , powers and authority conferred under the 
Act, including: 
(a) hearing appeals against the orders of the Appellate Authority; 
(b) making provisions for speedy access to public services in 
accordance with the provisions of the Act; and 
(c) payment of compen sation for delayed delivery of public service 
by any designated officer to the eligible person. 
(2) The Commission shall comprise a Chief Commissioner and two 
Commissioners, to be appointed by  the Government from persons having domicile 
of the Punjab, in s uch manner and on such terms and conditions, as may be 
prescribed, and until so prescribed, as may be determined by the Government. 
(3) The Commission shall be headed by the Chief Commissioner, who shall be 
a retired senior Government servant, not below th e rank of BPS -21 with proven 
integrity and intellect. 
(4) The other two Commissioners shall be appointed by the Government, in 
the following manner: 
8 
(a) a former civil servant of BPS -20 or above, with proven integrity and 
intellect, who has demonstrated expert ise in one or more of the 
following: 
(i) financial management; or 
(ii) public administration, regulation and discipline; 
(b) an eminent person, having a bachelor degree in the relevant field and 
has been associated with public services for a period of fifteen years, 
provided that he may not be less than forty five years of age. 
(5) The Chief Commissioner and the Commissioners shall hold office for a 
period of three years from the date on which they enter upon office or until they 
attain the age of sixty five years, whichever is earlier. 
(6) Upon completion of their term, the Chief Commissioner and the 
Commissioners shall not be eligible for reappointment. 
(7) In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chief Commissioner or any 
of the Commissioners, or if that offic e is vacant, the Government may appoint any 
qualified person to hold that office in the interim for a term not exceeding six months 
on the terms and conditions determined by the Government. 
(8) The Government may remove the Chief Commissioner or the 
Commissioner before the expiry of his term on ground of misconduct or of being 
incapable of properly performing the duties of his office by reason of physical or 
mental incapacity: 
Provided that before removing the Chief Commissioner or the Commissioner, 
as the case may be, the Government shall give him an opportunity of being heard in 
person. 
(9) The Chief Commissioner and the Commissioners shall engage exclusively 
in the duties and functions of the Commission and may not hold any other office of 
profit or engage in any other employment for reward. 
(10) The Government shall provide the Commission with such officers and 
ministerial staff, as may be required for the discharge of its functions under the Act. 
(11) The Commission may, in consultation with the Governme nt, appoint such 
officers and ministerial staff, as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions 
under the Act. 
17. Powers of the Commission.– (1) The Commission shall, for the purposes of 
its functions under the Act, have the same powers as are ves ted in a civil court 
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) in respect of the following 
matters, namely: 
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining 
him on oath; 
(b) discovery and production of any document or other material  object 
producible as evidence; 
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits; 
(d) requisitioning of any public record; 
(e) issuing commission for the examination of witnesses; 
(f) reviewing its decisions, directions and orders; and 
(g) any other matter which may be prescribed by the rules. 
9 
(2) The Commission shall have powers to regulate its own procedure. 
(3) The Commission shall arrange to deliver copies of the decision to the 
parties concerned within a period of fifteen days from the date of such decision. 
18. Staff and officers to be public servants .– The staff and officers of the 
Commission shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 
of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
19. Power to issue directions.– (1) The Commission shall, upon adjudication of  
a complaint, have the power to issue directions: 
(i) requiring any Authority entrusted with administration to take such steps 
as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of the Act 
or any other law under which the eligible person, entitled to  a right or 
benefit; and 
(ii) requiring the payment of compensation to the eligible person, 
(2) Where the Commission, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to 
inquire into the matter, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof and shall enjoy 
powers available to a Tribunal under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, 1969 (II of 1969). 
20. Punishment for frivolous complaints .– (1) Any person, whose appeal 
complaining against an alleged provision of public service or alleging any deficiency 
therein, withi n stipulated time is rejected by the Appellate Authority and while 
deciding so, the Appellate Authority is also of the view that his complaint was false, 
frivolous or vexatious and if such order is upheld by the Commission also, the 
complainant shall be served by the Commission, with a show cause notice, requiring 
him to submit his reply within a period of fifteen days of show cause in writing that 
why he shall not be prosecuted for filing a frivolous complaint. 
(2) If the Commission is satisfied, upon rece iving the reply to show cause 
notice and hearing the parties that the c omplaint so filed was false and frivolous, it 
may proceed to fine the complainant for an amount up to rupees fifty thousand. 
21. Deposit of fines and fees .– (1) All fines, except those in nature of 
compensation to be paid to the eligible person under the Act , shall, upon recovery, 
be immediately deposited in the Public Account of the Province, so maintained in 
terms of Article 118 of the Constitution while all fees shall be deposited in the 
Provincial Consolidated Fund.  
(2) All Authorities shall be bound to give effect to the orders and directions 
of the Commission in enforcing its decisions and orders, including but not limited to 
orders related to attachment and remission of properties , salaries and othe r 
receivable of the defaulters. 
22. Protection of action taken in good faith .– No suit, prosecution or any other 
legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything which is done or intended 
to be done in good faith, in pursuance  of the provisions of the Act or the rules made 
thereunder. 
23. Act to have overriding effect .– The provisions of the Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time 
being in force. 
24. Power of the Co mmission to send applications to the Appellate 
Authority directly .– Notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, the 
10 
Commission, if it receives any application alleging non -compliance of the provisions 
of the Act, may , if it deems fit, send such an appli cation directly to any Appellate 
Authority for taking further action in the matter in accordance with the provisions of 
the Act. 
25. Bar of jurisdiction of Courts .– No Court shall entertain any suit, application 
or other proceeding in respect of any order made under the Act and no such order 
shall be called in question otherwise than by way of appeal under the Act. 
26. Power to make rules .– (1) The Government may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of the Act. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Government 
shall have the power to prescribe forms and fees for mak ing applications under the 
Act. 
27. Power to frame regulations.– The Commission may, for the purposes of the 
Act, frame regulations not inconsistent with the Act and the rules. 
28. Power to remove difficulties.– (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to 
the provisions of the Act, the Government may, by order, make such provisions, as it 
may deem necessary or expedient, for removal of the difficulty. 
(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is 
made, be laid before Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.