To ensure greater transparency, efficiency and accountability in public services, the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Wednesday approved a new set of draft rules.The draft rules under Section 20 of the Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Service Act, 2018, have been framed by the Department of Governance Reforms and Public Grievances.The rules would help in ensuring back-end computerisation of all public services within three years, besides making mandatory the provision of online receipt of service requests, according to an official spokesperson.The rules emphasise on electronic delivery of services to citizens, as far as possible, in a time-bound manner to enhance transparency and accountability, besides inclusion of a healthy system of incentives and disincentives for the public authorities and their staff.They also provide for intimation or tracking of application status by the applicants through mobile phones or internet. A simplified redressal/appeal mechanism, as well as a lean and thin Commission, namely Punjab Transparency & Accountability in Delivery of Public Services Commission, with faster delivery of justice, has also been incorporated to strengthen the provision of the Act in letter and spirit.Notably, the Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Service Act, 2018 received the assent of the Punjab Governor on July 12, 2018, and was notified and came into effect on July 17, 2018.