E-service providers get legal sanctity

By Arjun Raghunath
T'Puram, Oct 7

E-services being delivered through the 2000 plus Akshaya e-Kendras across the State have got legal sanctity with the Government bringing out the Kerala Information Technology (Electronic Delivery of Services) Rules 2010.

The rules, that has been framed under provisions of the central IT Act 2000, would be applicable to any e-service providers entitled by the Government. The rates for various e-service that could be charged by the e-service providers has also been notified by the government in the rules.

As many as 23 services that are being delivered through the village and taluk offices are listed out in the rules as e-services that could be delivered through the e-service providers. The application forms to be used for each service as well as the format of the certificate to be issued by the e-service provider have also be specifically mentioned so as to ensure uniformity in the services being delivered by all the e-service providers.

The e-service provider is entitled to a service charge of Rs. 20 for delivering an e-service. Service charge for allied services like status enquiry, computer print-out and scanning related to e-services and acknowledgment receipts is fixed at Rs. 2. Fifty percent of the service charge, except for the allied services, will have to be remitted to the Government.

The Government should conduct audit of the services being delivered through the e-service providers every year with the help of a audit agency. The audit should cover the over all functioning of the e-service providers as well as maintenance of accounts, say the rules.

The rules also provides that any license, permit, certificate or other services delivered through the e-service providers will be admissible in any legal or other proceedings. However, such certificate should contain wither a computer generated number or a bar code or digital signature or any other means notified by the Government so as to enure the authenticity of the document.

The format of the acknowledgment and receipt to be issued by the e-service provider has also been standardised in the rule.

Ends