Examining the Origin and Causes of Omission by Government Officials and Its Impact on Administrative Transparency and Integrity

Abstract

The omission or failure to act by government officials in Iran has become a destructive phenomenon that undermines organizational ethics and contributes to the spread of corruption. This issue is a key concern in public law and entails broad social, economic, and legal consequences. Omission impairs public trust in government, leads to socio-economic disruptions, halts development projects, decreases institutional efficiency, undermines national economic stability, and creates hesitation among investors. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the causes of this affliction and propose remedial strategies for enhancing administrative transparency and integrity. Among the causes of omission are deliberate negligence, the imposition of illegitimate demands, the dependency of the economy on the state, the impact of sanctions, ambiguities and inconsistencies in supervisory legislation, overlapping functions of oversight institutions, inefficiencies in financial laws, political pressures, misuse of public funds and assets, fear of legal prosecution, lack of precise definition of public rights, weak enforcement mechanisms, and politically motivated appointments. In the Iranian legal framework, the responsibility of government officials is based on the fault theory. Omission manifests in various forms such as failure to report crimes, misuse of funds, delays in public projects, neglect in supervisory duties, bribery, and carelessness in safeguarding confidential information. To counter this phenomenon, the following strategies are recommended: scientific analysis of causes and consequences, reform of policies and oversight mechanisms, improved project management, clear definition of public rights, restructuring of the national supervisory framework, enhancement of transparency in executive agencies, strengthening of public oversight, and the development of more precise laws regarding state and civil service accountability. Emphasizing transparency, oversight, and proper implementation of financial and budgetary laws is imperative.