The Delhi government has notified a new law making time-bound delivery of public services a legal right and allowing officials to face financial penalties for unjustified delays or wrongful rejection of applications. The Delhi Right to Time-Bound and Easy Delivery of Services Act, 2026, replaces the 2011 law and introduces digital tracking, fixed timelines and an automatic grievance process for citizens.
Under the new legislation, officials can be fined Rs 250 for every day of unjustified delay, subject to a maximum penalty of Rs 5,000. A one-time fine ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 5,000 may also be imposed for rejecting an application without sufficient grounds. Officials will be given an opportunity to explain their actions before a penalty is imposed.
The law applies to the government departments concerned, local bodies and notified institutions. The Delhi government will issue a separate notification specifying the services covered and the maximum number of days within which each service must be delivered.
Applicants will be able to submit applications online and track their progress using a unique application number. Departments will be required to maintain digital records and regularly update application status. If an application is rejected, the designated officer must provide the reasons in writing.
A designated officer will be responsible for each notified service, creating an identifiable point of accountability when a deadline is missed. If the service is not delivered within the prescribed period, the original application will automatically be treated as an appeal before the department’s Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority. Applicants will not have to file a separate appeal.
The authority, headed by an officer senior to the designated officer, will examine the case, direct delivery of the service where necessary and determine responsibility for the delay. Cases that remain unresolved for more than 30 days will automatically move to the Delhi Service Rights Commission for a second appeal.
The commission will hear second appeals and monitor implementation of the law. It will also be empowered to inspect government offices, recommend departmental action, suggest changes to procedures and initiate inquiries on its own. The structure creates a two-tier grievance redressal system, with responsibility moving from the department-level authority to the commission when a case remains unresolved.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s office said the legislation was intended to end repeated visits to government offices and unnecessary delays in completing legitimate work. Gupta said the law was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “minimum government, maximum governance” approach and described timely delivery of services as a citizen’s right and the administration’s responsibility.
The immediate operation of the law will depend on the separate notification listing covered services and their delivery timelines. Until those services and deadlines are specified, the penalties and automatic appeal provisions cannot be applied to individual applications under the new framework.
