By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: In a major governance reform, the Delhi Cabinet has approved the Delhi Right of Citizen to Time Bound and Ease of Delivery of Service Bill, 2026, granting citizens a legal right to receive notified government services within fixed timelines while introducing strict accountability for delays.
The proposed legislation, approved under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, replaces the 2011 law and aims to make public service delivery faster, transparent and fully technology-driven. Officials responsible for unjustified delays may face penalties of ₹250 per day, up to a maximum of ₹5,000, after being given an opportunity to explain their case.
A key feature of the Bill is the complete digitisation of government services. Citizens will be able to submit applications online, receive a unique application number and track the status of their requests in real time, reducing the need for repeated visits to government offices.
The Bill also introduces an automatic escalation mechanism. If a designated officer fails to deliver a service within the prescribed timeline, the case will automatically move to the Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority without requiring the applicant to file a separate appeal. If unresolved, it will be escalated to the proposed Delhi Right to Service Commission.
Every government department will appoint an independent Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority to decide appeals, ensure timely service delivery and initiate action against officials responsible for delays. Appeals are expected to be disposed of within 30 days.
The legislation also provides for the creation of an independent Delhi Right to Service Commission, which will hear second appeals, oversee implementation of the law, inspect government offices, recommend disciplinary action against negligent officials and suggest administrative reforms to improve service delivery.
Besides penalties for delays, the Bill empowers authorities to impose fines of ₹250 to ₹5,000 for unjustified rejection of applications, reinforcing accountability across departments.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the proposed law would ensure time-bound, transparent and citizen-centric governance, strengthen public confidence in government services and significantly reduce bureaucratic delays through digital monitoring and an effective grievance redressal system.
