The Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has approved the ‘Delhi Right of Citizens to Time-Bound and Easy Delivery of Services Bill, 2026’, replacing the older law with a modern framework for citizen-centric governance. This new Bill includes penalties for officials to ensure accountability in service delivery, with fines of up to Rs 250 per day, capped at Rs 5,000 for delays without valid reasons. The objective is to provide every citizen with government services within a set timeframe, making departments and officials more responsible for delays.
The Bill emphasizes transparency, simplicity, and technology-driven services, aligning with the vision of good governance set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It aims to utilize digital technologies extensively to enhance service delivery efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness. Every citizen will have the right to receive specified government services within a defined timeframe, with notifications issued by the government to outline services covered and responsible officials.
Citizens will be able to apply for services online, with each application assigned a unique number for real-time tracking. The entire process, from application submission to service delivery, will be digitized, reducing the need for multiple office visits. Automatic escalation is a key feature, ensuring accountability by automatically escalating unresolved matters to higher authorities. Citizen Grievance Redressal Authorities will be appointed in each department to handle appeals related to service delays or rejections.
The Bill also establishes the Delhi Right to Service Commission, a statutory body responsible for overseeing the law’s implementation, recommending actions against negligent officials, and proposing new services for inclusion. This law aims to streamline service delivery, reduce delays, enhance transparency through digital tracking, and provide an effective grievance redressal mechanism. Chief Minister Gupta highlighted that this legislation will make the governance system more efficient, transparent, responsive, and citizen-centric, strengthening public trust in government services.
