Delhi govt notifies new law, imposes Rs 250 daily fine on officials for service delays

The Delhi government has notified a new law that stipulates a penalty, which could go up to a maximum of Rs 5,000, against officials for delays and negligence.

The Delhi (Right of Citizens to Time-Bound and Easy Delivery of Services) Act, 2026, aims to guarantee that government departments provide services within set deadlines and that officials responsible for unnecessary delays are held accountable. It includes provisions to enforce a fine of Rs 250 per day, up to a maximum of Rs 5,000, against erring personnel. This newly notified legislation will replace the existing 2011 time-bound service delivery law with a more modern and accountable framework.

In a statement, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the new rules are inspired by PM Narendra Modi's mantra of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'.


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Through a separate notification, the Delhi government specified which services fall under the scope of the Act along with the maximum timeframe allowed for delivering each service, according to the CMO statement.

A designated officer will be held accountable for every service. The law's jurisdiction will extend across departments, local bodies, and notified institutions, making it easier to pinpoint responsibility whenever an application sits pending.

The Act facilitates online applications for public services alongside digital tracking of their progress. Every submission will be allocated a unique application number, enabling citizens to track its status online. In turn, the relevant departments must maintain digital records of all applications and continuously update their progress. Upon receiving an application, the designated officer is tasked with either providing the service within the stipulated timeline or issuing a written explanation detailing the reasons for rejection.

A key feature of the Act is its automatic escalation mechanism for appeals. Should a designated officer fail to deliver a service within the set timeframe, the original application will automatically be treated as an appeal before the Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority—sparing citizens from having to file a separate appeal due to the delay.

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Within every department, an officer senior to the designated officer will be named as the Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority. This authority will hear the case, order the delivery of the service where appropriate, and assign responsibility for the delay. Appeals are typically required to be resolved within 30 days. If the authority fails to settle an appeal within this timeframe, the matter automatically escalates to the Delhi Service Rights Commission.

Beyond handling second appeals, the commission will oversee the overall implementation of the Act. It will hold the power to inspect government premises, recommend disciplinary measures, suggest procedural enhancements, and initiate inquiries suo motu whenever required.

The updated legislation also establishes financial penalties to enforce accountability among public servants. If a service is delayed without valid justification, the responsible officer may be fined Rs 250 for each day of delay up to a maximum penalty of Rs 5,000. Furthermore, an officer could face a one-time fine ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 5,000 for rejecting an application without proper or sufficient grounds.