The Odisha government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Auto-Appeal System under the Odisha Right to Public Services Act, 2012, aimed at making the delivery of government services more transparent, accountable and time-bound.

Under the new system, government officials responsible for delays in providing notified public services may face financial penalties. An officer found responsible for delaying a service can be fined ₹250 per day, up to a maximum of ₹5,000.

The penalty amount can be recovered directly from the concerned officer’s salary by linking the system with the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and the Treasury System. The General Administration Department has circulated the SOP to all departments for implementation.

According to the new guidelines, applicants seeking notified public services through an online portal will receive a unique acknowledgement number after submitting their applications.

If the designated officer fails to dispose of the application within the prescribed time limit, the case will automatically be forwarded to the First Appellate Authority through the Auto-Appeal System. The applicant will not be required to submit a separate appeal.

Applications that remain unresolved for 30 days will automatically enter the auto-appeal process. This is expected to reduce the need for applicants to repeatedly visit government offices to follow up on pending applications.

The system will also create greater accountability among officials responsible for service delivery. Officers who routinely keep applications pending beyond the stipulated timeframe could come under scrutiny through the automated process.

The government expects the new SOP to strengthen the implementation of the Odisha Right to Public Services Act and ensure that citizens receive government services within the prescribed timelines.

The move is also aimed at reducing administrative delays and making public service delivery more citizen-friendly, with responsibility clearly fixed on officials in cases of avoidable delay.

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