Come September 15, Delhi Government officials will have to pay financial penalty to applicants if they fail to deliver services within a timeframe, a move that comes in the backdrop of Anna Hazare’s demand for a citizens’ charter.

The reforms in delivery of services such as issuance of driving licence, ration card and registration of birth and death in a timebound manner has been initiated by the City Government as per provision of a legislation passed by Delhi Assembly in March.

The decision to implement the ‘Delhi Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services Act’ comes close on the heels of Mr Hazare’s agitation demanding a Citizens’ Charter for all government departments, providing details about services offered by them, the time limit and punishment for failing to provide the service.

The legislation fixes financial penalty in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 200 a day for failing to deliver services while making it a right of every citizen to obtain timebound delivery of services from certain government agencies.

“The legislation will come into force from September 15.

It will improve accountability and rid our system of irregularities,” said a senior official.

The departments which have been included under the legislation are Revenue, Food and Civil Supplies, Transport and Trade and Taxes as well as civic agencies MCD and NDMC.