Can the legality of charging for e-government services be questioned in court?
This question stems from the fact that many developing nations are adopting self sustaining models for improved service delivery to citizens. For example a citizen may go to a single window service center for a variety of services such as issue of government certificates, land record certificates, trainee driver licenses rather than going to individual departments. Usually the service center charges for these services, which would be available free or cheaper at the district office or regular channels. Since the tax payers are paying the government anyway to provide these services, it could be argued that present systems should be made more efficient rather than starting paid delivery channels for the same services. Is such an argument tenable from a legal standpoint?
