Authorities at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) will seek clarification from the government as to why the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-affiliated institution has been included under the list of NGOs and institutions whose registrations have been cancelled.
The CFTRI director was on tour and not available for comments. A senior scientist told The Hindu that they only learnt about it from the media and cross-checked it on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
“Our next course of action will be based on securing clarification as to why the CFTRI has been included in the list,” the scientist said.
‘No clarity on issue’
The Ministry cancelled the Certificate of Registration of 8,975 associations for not complying with provisions of the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act Rules, 2011, as per which they are supposed to mandatorily file returns for funds received.
“But funding for research and other activities comes directly from the CSIR and even foreign funding if any, is routed through the appropriate government channels and hence, there is no clarity on the issue,” according to the scientist, who said the institute staff are perplexed as to how the registration of the premier laboratory got cancelled.
“If it is a procedural mistake pertaining to filing of accounts then it can be rectified, but before we take remedial measures we should know the exact grounds on which CFTRI registration has been cancelled. As on Saturday, the institute hadn’t received government notice related to the issue,” the source said.
The CFTRI was established in the 1950s with the objective of pursuing research and develop technology in the field of food science. It has hundreds of technologies and patents to its credit.
Registration of 8,975 associations cancelled for not complying with Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Rules, 2011
