Odisha News / Officials Face Salary Cuts as Odisha Govt Rolls out SOP for Timely Services

Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: The Odisha government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Auto‑Appeal System to ensure timely delivery of public services and accountability among officials.

The move aims to curb delays and negligence in service delivery under the Odisha Right to Public Services Act, 2012.

According to the new SOP, if an officer fails to provide a service within the stipulated time, the system will automatically escalate the case as an appeal to the designated appellate authority. This eliminates the need for applicants to file repeated complaints or visit offices multiple times.

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The SOP also introduces strict financial penalties. For every day of delay, the responsible officer will be fined ₹250, with a maximum penalty of ₹5,000.

Importantly, the fine will be directly deducted from the officer’s salary through integration with HRMS and the Treasury system. This ensures that accountability is enforced without bureaucratic loopholes.

Applicants applying through the online portal will receive a unique acknowledgment number. If their request is not resolved within 30 days, the system will automatically trigger an appeal.

This mechanism is expected to reduce harassment of citizens and expose officials who deliberately stall applications.

The General Administration Department has circulated the SOP to all departments, making it mandatory to follow the guidelines. Officials who habitually delay services will face financial consequences, while citizens will benefit from faster, more transparent processes.

By linking penalties directly to salaries, the government hopes to instil discipline and efficiency in public service delivery in Odisha.