New Delhi, July 15 -- In a major governance reform aimed at ending bureaucratic delays, the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Delhi Right of Citizen to Time Bound and Ease of Delivery of Service Bill, 2026, proposing to make time-bound delivery of notified government services a legal right. The legislation introduces a penalty mechanism under which officials responsible for unjustified delays can be fined Rs 250 per day, up to a maximum of Rs 5,000, while promising fully digital service delivery and automatic grievance escalation.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the proposed law would ensure citizens receive government services within fixed timelines while making departments more accountable and transparent.
"This Bill is intended to ensure that every citizen receives notified government services within the prescribed time frame. It also seeks to make government departments and officials more accountable for delays and negligence in service delivery," she said.
The proposed legislation will replace the Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services) Act, 2011. According to the government, citizens will be able to apply for notified services online, receive a unique application number and track the progress of their applications digitally, reducing the need for repeated visits to government offices. A key feature of the Bill is its 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 the matter remains unresolved, it will be escalated to the proposed Delhi Right to Service Commission.
The Bill also provides for an independent statutory Delhi Right to Service Commission to hear second appeals, monitor implementation, inspect government offices, recommend disciplinary action against negligent officials and suggest administrative reforms. Highlighting the objective of the legislation, Gupta said, "The law will mark a significant step towards administrative reforms in Delhi and serve as a milestone in providing citizens with more transparent, simple, efficient and technology-driven public services."
She added that once implemented, the law would make governance "more efficient, transparent, responsive, citizen-centric and trustworthy," while strengthening public confidence in government services.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.