Delhi Officials Face Fines Up To ₹5,000 for Service Delays! 💼
Delhi Officials Face Fines Up To ₹5,000 for Service Delays! 💼
Delhi's Cabinet approves a new Bill proposing fines of up to ₹5,000 for officials delaying public services. A major step towards accountability and efficient, time-bound service delivery for citizens. Find out more!
In a significant move aimed at enhancing public service delivery and bureaucratic accountability, the Delhi Cabinet has given its nod to the Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound and Ease of Delivery of Service) Bill, 2026. This proposed legislation is poised to replace the existing Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services) Act, 2011, promising a more stringent approach to delayed services.
The new Bill introduces a daily penalty of ₹250, capped at a maximum of ₹5,000, for officials found to be delaying services without valid justification. However, ensuring fairness, the penalty will only be imposed after the official concerned has been given a full opportunity to present their explanation, adhering to the principles of natural justice. This amendment marks a considerable increase from the 2011 Act, which previously stipulated a “compensatory cost” of ₹10 per day, with a maximum of ₹200 per application, for delayed services.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta lauded the Bill as a crucial step towards administrative reforms, emphasizing its role in ensuring that citizens receive notified services within prescribed timelines. She highlighted that the law would bolster accountability among government departments and officials, addressing negligence in service delivery. Ms. Gupta also mentioned that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric governance, aiming to provide more transparent, simple, efficient, and technology-driven public services.
The Delhi government expanded the scope of the 2011 Act last month by adding 23 more services, bringing the total number of services under the time-bound delivery mechanism to over 500. The newly approved Bill is expected to be tabled in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Delhi Assembly, signaling a robust commitment to improving citizen-government interactions.
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