DoPT wants CIC to dispense with outsourced staff

In a directive which may prove to be a death knell for CIC’s functioning, the government has directed the panel to either do away with its outsourced staff, which constitutes nearly 60 per cent of sanctioned strength, or cut their pay to minimum rates prescribed by it.

Doing away with nearly 100 outsourced employees would mean bringing to halt all the administrative work including data entry of hundreds of orders passed daily, entering details of incoming appeals and complaints, segregating them according to each Information Commissioner and determining if they fulfill criteria of complaint and appeals among other. These employees were hired through an outsourced agency by the Commission at the minimum wages prescribed as per norms. This contract is renewed every year. 

Over the years they gained experience and efficiency in handling matters related to the Commission. They pleaded with then Chief Information Commissioner to give some increment based on the experience and efficiency. The Chief Information Commissioners, who are administrative heads of the autonomous panel, agreed to their demand seeing their work.