News
Delayed govt. permits automatically granted
View(s):Public officials who delay approving permits and licenses beyond 10 working days without valid reasons will face an inquiry followed by disciplinary action, if found responsible.
The action is to be initiated keeping with a proposal submitted in the Budget by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake that if any reply is not received without a valid reason during 10 working days, the approval is deemed to have been given.
Mr. Karunanayake told the Sunday Times that the respective department head will be required to open an investigation against the relevant officer for the delay in granting approval and take necessary action.
He said, that if the investigations reveal that the granting of approval was deliberately delayed by a public official enabling the person applying to automatically obtain the permit or licence after the 10 day working period action would taken against the officer as well as the applicant.
It has been proposed that fines exceeding one million rupees will be imposed on the applicant, if malpractices are found.
The proposal had been included in view of complaints that approval for permits, licenses and projects were deliberately being delayed resulting in bribery.