How Bihar’s Lok Shikayat Law Works: File a Complaint Online or on 1800 345 6284 and Get a Hearing Within 60 Working Days

Have you applied for a government benefit in Bihar but not received it? Is your ration-related grievance unresolved, your pension delayed, or a government department refusing to address a problem?

Bihar has a legal mechanism designed to help residents pursue grievances against state government departments and public authorities. It is called the Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015, commonly known as the Lok Shikayat law.

The Act came into force across Bihar on 5 June 2016. It gives eligible applicants the right to have covered grievances heard, an opportunity for redressal and information about the decision within 60 working days.

You can file a complaint online, call the toll-free helpline 1800 345 6284, or visit a designated public grievance receiving centre.

Here is how to use the system, what complaints it covers, how to track your case and what to do if you disagree with the decision.

1 What is Bihar’s Lok Shikayat law?

The Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015, establishes a formal process for citizens to seek redressal of eligible grievances relating to government schemes, programmes, services and public authorities in Bihar.

Unlike an ordinary complaint sent to a department, a complaint registered under this Act enters a defined grievance-redressal process overseen by a designated Public Grievance Redressal Officer (PGRO).

The system provides for:

  • Registration and acknowledgement of a grievance.
  • Information about the hearing date.
  • An opportunity for the complainant to present the case.
  • Consideration of the grievance and the concerned public authority’s response.
  • A decision and information about the outcome within the prescribed period.
  • An appeal process for eligible cases where the complainant is dissatisfied.

The law is intended to make the handling of covered public grievances more transparent and time-bound.

Important: The 60-working-day period is a statutory timeline for the prescribed process. It is not a guarantee that every complaint will be decided in the applicant’s favour or that every requested benefit will automatically be granted.

2 Who can file a Lok Shikayat complaint?

The official portal states that an individual citizen, a group of citizens or an organisation can file a grievance. Complaints under the Act are free of cost.

You do not need to be represented by a lawyer simply to submit a complaint.

The system is intended for grievances connected with covered state government schemes, programmes, services and the conduct of public servants in relation to applicable rules, policies and laws.

Examples of issues that may fall within the system, depending on the notified subject list, include:

  • Delay or failure in receiving an eligible government benefit.
  • Problems relating to drinking water or sanitation services.
  • Grievances connected with ration and welfare schemes.
  • Housing-scheme implementation issues.
  • Electricity-related public-service grievances.
  • Problems concerning land records or encroachment where the subject is covered.
  • Complaints about the implementation of government programmes.
  • Alleged violations of applicable rules by public servants.

These examples are not a guarantee that every dispute in the same category is admissible. Check the official list of covered schemes, services and public authorities before filing.

3 What complaints are not handled through this law?

Not every dispute involving a government office belongs in the Lok Shikayat system.

The official materials identify excluded or separately governed categories, including certain matters involving the Right to Information Act, Bihar’s Right to Public Services framework, service matters and court cases.

For example:

  • You want a copy of a government file: An RTI application may be the appropriate route.
  • A notified public service has not been delivered within its prescribed service deadline: Check the relevant Bihar Right to Public Services mechanism.
  • You are challenging a matter already before a court: The appropriate judicial procedure may apply.
  • You have a private dispute with another person or business: The Lok Shikayat law is not a general substitute for civil, consumer or criminal remedies.

The portal’s rules and notified subject lists determine whether a particular grievance is covered. Even where a subject is excluded from this Act, another legal remedy may be available.

4 How to file a Lok Shikayat complaint online

The official portal is:

lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in

The website provides options to register a new grievance, file appeals and check the status of an existing case.

Follow these steps.

Step 1: Open the official website

Visit the portal and choose the option to register a new grievance. Use the official Bihar government website rather than an unofficial agent or private website.

Step 2: Enter the required details

Follow the fields shown on the registration form. Depending on the form and the type of complaint, you may need to provide your identity and contact details, the relevant district or department, and a clear description of the grievance.

Enter accurate details so that the department and grievance officer can identify the matter.

Step 3: Explain the problem clearly

Describe what happened, when it happened, which department is involved and what action you have already taken.

Avoid writing only “Please help” or “My problem is unresolved.” Instead, identify the specific government service or benefit and explain the failure or delay.

Step 4: Attach supporting documents where relevant

Depending on your case, useful documents may include:

  • The original application or acknowledgement.
  • A scheme registration or beneficiary reference.
  • Copies of previous complaints.
  • Letters or messages from the department.
  • Relevant orders or notices.
  • Other documents that establish the facts.

Submit only documents relevant to the grievance. Keep your originals and retain copies of everything you upload.

Step 5: Submit and save the acknowledgement

After submitting the complaint, save the registration number or acknowledgement. The official process provides information about the hearing date after registration.

Do not close the page without recording your complaint reference. You will need it to check the status and follow up.

5 How to file by phone: 1800 345 6284

If you cannot access the internet or need help registering a grievance, you can call the Bihar Lok Shikayat toll-free helpline.

<box border radius="lg" padding={4} gap={2}> <title size="lg">Bihar Lok Shikayat Helpline</title> <title size="2xl" color="#6D28D9">1800 345 6284</title> <text>Officially listed hours: **9:30 AM to 6:30 PM daily**.</text> <text color="secondary" size="sm">Confirm the current operating hours on the official portal before calling.</text> <text><Link url="https://lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in/ContactUsEn.aspx" title="Official contact details"/></text> </box>

The helpline can be used to register a grievance or check its status.

Before calling, keep the following information ready:

  • Your name and contact details.
  • The district and department involved.
  • The government scheme or service concerned.
  • A short explanation of the issue.
  • Relevant application or beneficiary references.
  • Copies of earlier complaints, if available.

Explain the issue clearly and ask for the grievance registration number and hearing details. Write them down carefully.

The official portal also lists info-Lokshikayat-bih@gov.in for grievance-related email communication. If you use email, retain the sent message and any response.

6 Can you file a complaint in person?

Yes. The official Lok Shikayat portal lists grievance-receiving counters at the subdivision, district and state headquarters levels.

You can approach the designated grievance-receiving centre relevant to your area.

Carry the relevant application references, supporting documents and a written description of your complaint. Take copies rather than handing over irreplaceable originals unless specifically required under the applicable procedure.

Ask for an acknowledgement or registration number so that you can track the case.

The portal also lists the Jan Samadhan mobile app among the available filing channels. Check the official website for current access and instructions.

7 What happens after you register a complaint?

The process is more structured than simply forwarding a message to a government department.

Stage 1: Registration

Your complaint is registered and an acknowledgement or registration number is provided.

Stage 2: Hearing information

The acknowledgement provides information about the hearing date. Keep the details safely so you know when and where the matter is scheduled.

Stage 3: Consideration by the grievance officer

A designated Public Grievance Redressal Officer handles the grievance under the statutory process. The concerned public authority may be asked to provide information or participate in the proceedings.

Stage 4: Hearing and decision

The complainant gets an opportunity to present the grievance. The officer considers the matter under the Act and the applicable rules and procedures.

Stage 5: Information about the outcome

The complainant is provided information about the decision. The official portal also offers a facility to download the web copy of a final decision.

How long does the process take?

The Act provides a limit of 60 working days for the prescribed grievance-redressal process.

Working days are not the same as calendar days. Weekends and applicable holidays do not count as ordinary working days.

The timeline should not be interpreted as a promise that every government benefit will be physically delivered within 60 working days in every case. The legal requirement concerns the prescribed hearing, redressal opportunity and decision process.

8 How to check your complaint status online

If you have already filed a grievance, you do not need to start over just to find out what happened.

Visit the official Lok Shikayat portal.

Look for the option to check the status of a grievance, appeal or review. Enter the required reference number and any other details requested by the portal.

Depending on the stage of your case, you may be able to check the status of the complaint or appeal and access the final decision.

If the online status is unclear, call 1800 345 6284 during the listed operating hours and ask for assistance.

Keep a record of the date of each follow-up and the information provided.

9 What if you disagree with the decision?

You are not necessarily required to accept an unfavourable decision without using the available remedies.

The Bihar Lok Shikayat system provides for first appeals, second appeals and review or revision mechanisms, subject to the applicable rules and the nature of the case.

The official portal has a section for filing first and second appeals and checking their status.

If you are dissatisfied with the decision:

  1. Read the order carefully.
  2. Identify the reasons given for the decision.
  3. Collect documents showing why you believe the decision is incorrect or incomplete.
  4. Check which appeal or review remedy applies.
  5. Confirm the applicable deadline from the Act, rules, order and official instructions.
  6. File through the appropriate channel and retain the acknowledgement.

Do not assume that every case has the same deadline or that an appeal can be filed at any time. The relevant rules and the date of the order matter.

You can also use the portal’s facility to download the final decision, which may help when preparing an appeal.

10 What if the department ignores the complaint or delays the process?

The Act and its rules contain accountability provisions for failure to perform the duties prescribed by the law. Official explanatory materials describe potential penalties in the range of ₹500 to ₹5,000 in relevant cases, along with possible departmental proceedings.

These penalties are not an automatic payment to the complainant whenever a grievance remains unresolved. Their applicability depends on the statutory requirements and the facts.

If your complaint appears to be delayed:

  • Check the registration and hearing details.
  • Contact the helpline with your complaint number.
  • Keep records of missed hearings or unanswered communications.
  • Ask for the status and reasons for any delay.
  • Use the prescribed appeal or review route where applicable.

The strongest follow-up is one that identifies the original grievance, the relevant date, the step that remains pending and the remedy you are seeking.

11 A complaint template you can prepare before filing

Use this outline to organise your facts before entering them into the portal or explaining them by phone.

Subject: Grievance regarding [government scheme/service] in [district]

Name: [Your name]

District and location: [District, block, panchayat or urban locality, as applicable]

Department or public authority: [Name, if known]

Scheme or service: [Name of the scheme or service]

Application or beneficiary reference: [Number, if applicable]

Date of original application or incident: [Date]

Details of the grievance:

I applied for or sought [service/benefit] on [date]. The issue is [describe the delay, refusal, omission or other problem]. I have already contacted [office/department] on [date], but the matter remains unresolved.

Relief requested:

I request that the concerned authority examine the matter, provide an opportunity for hearing under the applicable procedure and communicate the decision and next steps.

Supporting documents: [List relevant documents]

Previous complaint reference: [If applicable]

Before filing, check that your issue falls within the notified scope of the Lok Shikayat law.

12 Important things to remember

  • Filing a grievance under the Act is free of cost.
  • Use the official portal: lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in.
  • The toll-free number is 1800 345 6284.
  • The official contact page lists helpline hours of 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM daily.
  • Save the complaint registration number and hearing information.
  • The statutory timeline is 60 working days, not simply 60 calendar days.
  • Not every dispute or government service falls under the Act.
  • If you disagree with a decision, check the available appeal or review procedure and its deadline.
  • Never pay an unofficial agent who promises to guarantee a favourable decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lok Shikayat complaint free?

Yes. The Bihar government’s official portal states that grievances under the Act can be filed free of cost.

Can I complain if my government benefit is delayed?

Potentially, yes, if the benefit or service is covered by the notified subject list and the matter is not excluded or assigned to another statutory process. Check the official list before filing.

Will I definitely get my benefit within 60 working days?

Not necessarily. The Act provides a time-bound grievance-redressal process. The outcome depends on the facts, eligibility rules and the decision of the competent authority.

Can I file a complaint without visiting a government office?

Yes. The official portal and toll-free helpline provide remote filing options. The portal also lists email and the Jan Samadhan app among the available channels.

What if I do not know which department is responsible?

Explain the issue clearly and identify the scheme or service involved as far as possible. The official portal publishes information about covered schemes, services and the relevant public authorities. You can also call the helpline for guidance.

Where can I download the final decision?

Visit the official portal and use its facility to download a web copy of the final decision for a complaint or appeal.

The bottom line

Bihar’s Lok Shikayat law gives citizens a formal route to pursue eligible grievances involving state government schemes, programmes, services and public authorities.

If your complaint falls within the Act, you can register it online, call 1800 345 6284, or approach a designated grievance-receiving centre. Save your acknowledgement, attend the scheduled hearing, track the outcome and use the prescribed appeal process if you disagree with the decision.

The key is to make the complaint specific, preserve the evidence and keep the registration number. A documented grievance is easier to track and follow up than an informal request that leaves no official record.

Official sources