The Central Information Commission (CIC) has strongly reprimanded the CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) for significant delays in salary payments and repeated lapses in handling Right to Information (RTI) requests. The Commission observed a 'complete breakdown in institutional discipline' and a 'disturbing state of administrative confusion' within the public authority.
Contradictory stands and lack of accountability
During the hearing, the CIC noted that officials from CSIR-CIMFR gave contradictory statements regarding the custody of records. This, the Commission said, reveals a lack of accountability and transparency. The CIC directed the institute to ensure timely payment of salaries and to adhere strictly to RTI timelines, warning of further action in case of non-compliance.
Payment delays affect staff morale
The payment delays, which have been ongoing for several months, have severely affected the morale of employees. According to sources, salaries for some months were delayed by up to 45 days, causing financial distress among staff. The CIC has asked the institute to submit a compliance report within 15 days.
RTI applications ignored
In addition to payment issues, the CIC found that multiple RTI applications were either ignored or responded to after the statutory deadline. One applicant had to wait over six months for a response. The Commission termed this a serious violation of the RTI Act and directed the Public Information Officer to explain the delays.
CIC's directives
The CIC has directed CSIR-CIMFR to clear all pending salaries by the end of the month and to streamline its RTI mechanism. It also recommended disciplinary action against officials found negligent. The Commission warned that any future lapses would be met with stringent penalties under the RTI Act.
