ICSSR issues show cause notice to CSDS for ‘maligning ECI’, alleges ‘administrative, financial irregularities’

After the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) issued a show cause notice to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) for “deliberately scandalising and maligning the reputation and image of Election Commission of India (ECI)“, senior officials at CSDS said that they had received the notice, were “studying it in detail” and had been given a week’s time to reply.

Up to 90% of CSDS staff salaries and 50% of its administrative costs are covered by ICSSR, as part of its Grant-in-Aid scheme, according to Education Ministry sources said. Between 2020-21 and the first quarter of 2023-24, CSDS was allocated ₹13.92 crore, the Ministry told the Lok Sabha in 2023. The showcause notice has now asked CSDS to explain “why the Grant-in-Aid, which is discretionary in nature, should not be cancelled and withdrawn”, and CSDS removed from the purview of the ICSSR’s Grant-in-Aid scheme.

‘Scandalising ECI reputation’

The Hindu accessed a copy of the show cause notice, issued by ICSSR deputy director Nitin Kumar and addressed to CSDS director Awadhendra Sharan. It lists eleven “major irregularities”, including a study conducted by CSDS on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar electoral rolls undertaken by the ECI, published with the title, ‘How inclusive is EC’s special revision exercise?’

“The CSDS seems to have published media stories based on biased interpretation of the SIR exercise by the ECI and deliberately scandalising and maligning the reputation and image of ECI which is a constitutional authority,” the notice states. “Another study conducted on elections held in Maharashtra in recent past and deliberately allowing its employee holding responsible position at CSDS to make incorrect statements in media…subsequently retracting from the same citing glitches in data analysis…”

Irregularities in faculty, director appointments

The notice has also sought a reply from CSDS on allegations of “administrative and financial irregularities”, claiming that ICSSR has pointed them out in the past, but has not received any satisfactory response or action taken report from CSDS.

These include the appointment of faculty in violation of mandatory UGC regulations and ICSSR guidelines and the consequential extension of illegal financial benefits to such persons, appointment and promotion of non-academic staff in violation of recruitment rules, the failure to hold elections for the chairman of CSDS’ governing body, and the opaque method used to appoint the CSDS Director despite ICSSR’s instructions to follow an objective and transparent method. 

The notice further raises concerns about the payment of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to employees staying in government accommodation allocated to their spouses and the grant of illegal financial benefits to such employees causing loss of public funds, CSDS’ annual accounts not being audited by the CAG or AG in order to hide financial embezzlement and the misuse of public funds, the failure to submit details of funds recieved through the FCRA route and its use. The notice states that this leads to non-compliance with the principles of good governance issued by ICSSR. 

FIRs filed against CSDS faculty

“CSDS, Delhi has continuously been involved in various irregularities in the past and they were also reported to ICSSR in form of multiple complaints through various channels,” the show cause notice states. 

First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against CSDS faculty Sanjay Kumar by the Nashik and Nagpur police, for allegedly spreading false claims of voter declines on social media. He later deleted and apologised for these posts. CSDS sources said that Mr. Kumar was “seeking legal opinion”. Despite repeated attempts, Mr. Kumar was unavailable for comment.