New Delhi: New Delhi: If you applied for a new power connection or your child’s birth certificate and did not get it on time, you may be entitled to compensation of upto Rs 5,000.Delhi cabinet Tuesday approved the Delhi Right of Citizen to Time Bound and Ease of Delivery of Service Bill, 2026, paving the way for a new legal framework that puts heavier penalties on officials who fail to deliver services to citizens within prescribed timelines. The Bill, which if passed in the assembly will replace the Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services) Act, 2011, features the complete digitisation of the service delivery process.Penalties will apply to both unjustified delays and wrongful rejection of applications. Officials responsible may be fined ₹250 per day, upto a maximum of ₹5,000. No penalty will be imposed without first giving the official concerned an opportunity to present an explanation. Under the present framework, the penalty is Rs 10 per day, capped at Rs 200.People will be able to submit applications online, receive a unique application number and track the status of their applications in real time. Information on every stage of the application process will be made available digitally, while departments will also monitor compliance with prescribed timelines through an online system. The govt said the move is expected to reduce repeated visits to offices and improve transparency and efficiency.Under the Bill, there is a proposal to introduce an automatic appeal mechanism. If the official fails to provide a notified service within the prescribed time limit, the case will automatically be treated as an appeal before the Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority, eliminating the need for citizens to file a separate appeal. If no decision is taken within the stipulated period at that level, the matter will automatically be escalated to the proposed Delhi Right to Service Commission.The authority to address grievances will be empowered to direct delivery of services where necessary, determine responsibility for delays and initiate the process for penal action. As a general rule, appeals are to be disposed of within 30 days.The proposed Delhi Right to Service Commission will hear second appeals, oversee implementation of the law, inspect govt offices, recommend departmental action against negligent officials, recommend inclusion of additional services under the law, suggest administrative reforms, conduct inquiries on its own motion where required, review its own decisions in accordance with the law and publish an annual report on service delivery and implementation.
