Sakaala Services (Amendment) Bill passed in Karnataka legislature
The Bill seeks to streamline the financial liability of defaulting public servants by capping the maximum compensatory cost payable for delayed service delivery at ₹500 per application.
On August 24, 2026, the Karnataka legislature passed the Karnataka Sakaala Services (Amendment) Bill 2026. This bill empowers the State Government to introduce new citizen services under the Sakaala services umbrella, designate competent authorities for handling these services, and adjust deadlines for service delivery along with modifying penalty structures.
D.K. Shivakumar, the Chief Minister, introduced the bill in the Assembly. To curb financial burdens on defaulting public servants, the bill caps the maximum compensatory cost at ₹500 per application. The bill also grants the State Government the authority to review the legality and propriety of orders passed by lower authorities, ensuring a mechanism to rectify gross injustices.
Furthermore, it provides a statutory remedy for citizens wrongfully denied compensatory costs, allowing for direct recovery from defaulting public servants. The bill aims to deter false, malicious, or vexatious complaints by enabling authorities to impose penal costs on erring complainants, which can be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
Importantly, the bill explicitly bars Civil Courts' jurisdiction in matters falling under the statutory competence of the empowered authorities, ensuring swift administrative finality.
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