Kerala High Court Directs State To Audit Citizen's Complaints Lodged On 'K-SMART', Report On FIRs Registered & Fines Imposed
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (May 29) passed an interim order directing the Secretary of Local Self Government Institutions (LSGI), which is the competent authority, to submit a detailed report on the actions taken on the complaints registered on K-SMART. For context, K-SMART or Kerala - Solution for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation is an e-governance platform for...
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (May 29) passed an interim order directing the Secretary of Local Self Government Institutions (LSGI), which is the competent authority, to submit a detailed report on the actions taken on the complaints registered on K-SMART.
For context, K-SMART or Kerala - Solution for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation is an e-governance platform for local bodies, enabling them to provide efficient and citizen-centric services. The app can be used to provide various services including online payments and redressal of grievances.
The direction was passed by Justice Devan Ramachandran while hearing a 2018 plea concerning unauthorized boards/banners in public places. The Amicus Curie in the case, Advocate Harish Vasudevan, submitted to the Court that the complaints in the K-SMART app were not being properly accounted for or any action taken.
The Court observed: “…The Secretary, LSGI to conduct an audit of the complaints in the K-SMART application after the date of judgment until the date of the instant report and file a report to this court as to the number of instances reported, the action taken, the fines collected, the FIRs registered and the officers responsible. This shall be done before the next posting date.”
The learned Single Judge further remarked that the State would get flooded with boards of political parties at the time of elections and that if listened to, people's voices would state that these boards are not needed.
The Court also noted that around 4500 boards were removed in the last drive in Thiruvananthapuram, including those of government officials. Thereafter, it orally observed, “The Government should come out with a strong message that these boards are unacceptable…It's the government that should come forward.”
The matter is posted to next week.
Case No: WP(C) No. 22750/ 2018
Case Title: St. Stephen's Malankara Catholic Church v. State of Kerala & Ors.