The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has released updated instructions to streamline e-Office operations and prevent the misuse of digital roles within the organization.

1. Management of Departmental Roles

• Inter-Lab Utility: The "Departmental Sender" and "Departmental Receiver" roles are strictly for the transfer of e-files and e-receipts between different laboratories.
• Dispatch Procedures: These roles are not required to dispatch letters from an e-file; any officer or staff member with access to the file can dispatch an approved and signed draft as an e-Letter.
• Local Empowerment: Lab-level Nodal Officers are responsible for assigning these roles based on functional needs, and these actions are not monitored by CSIR Headquarters.

2. Restrictions on the 'Downloader' Role

To ensure administrative integrity and prevent the manipulation of digital files, the following restrictions have been implemented:

• Strict Approvals: The 'Downloader' role can only be assigned with the explicit approval of the Lab’s Competent Authority, and this approval must be recorded in the system remarks by the Nodal Officer.
• Digital First Approach: Staff are encouraged to transact all official business within the e-file/e-receipt module and use the download feature only when absolutely necessary.
• Mandatory Certification: Any document converted from e-Office to a hard copy or PDF for formal submission must be manually signed and certified as a "True Copy of the e-Office Original".
• Verification Standards: Sections such as Accounts, Admin, and Purchase are instructed not to process any printouts unless they bear original physical signatures.
• Audit Logging: Every download action in the e-Office system is logged with a permanent timestamp and is subject to audit.