Patna, June 5 (IANS) In a bid to fast-track the complaint redressal process in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday formally implemented the Public Grievance Redressal Act in the state.

Terming it a historic step, the Chief Minister said: "Now people will have the right to know the status of their complaints redressal." Last year, the Bihar Assembly unanimously passed the Bihar Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015, which would guarantee time-bound redressal of grievances of the people in the state.

According to officials, the new Act is the first of its kind in the country.

The Act makes it mandatory for all public authorities to appoint officers to redress grievances.

It also provides for the setting up of a public grievances redressal commission and imposition of penalty on officer or grievances redressal officer for failing to deliver the services.

Earlier, to check rampant corruption and red-tapism in the state, the Nitish Kumar government launched the Right to Service Bill, which provides for levying of fines on government officials who do not do the people's work within a stipulated time.