The Railway Board has forced five senior officers out of service before their scheduled retirement, citing a marked decline in performance and irregularities in their conduct. Acting on directions from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, review committees under the Railway Ministry invoked Rule 1802(A) of Volume II of the Indian Railway Establishment Code, a provision equivalent to Rule 56(J) of the Fundamental Rules, to push through the premature retirements in public interest.
Which Officers Were Removed
The five Group 'A' officers removed on the committees' recommendation include two SAG-level officers from the Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS). The list also names a JAG-level officer of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) posted in Northern Railway, along with another IRSE officer in the same zone. A JAG-level officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) serving in Western Railway rounds out the group, meaning both Northern Railway and Western Railway have been directly hit by this round of action.
How the Review Was Conducted
Following the prescribed process, the review committees carried out a detailed evaluation of each officer's service record before arriving at their recommendation. The assessment covered Annual Performance Assessment Reports (APAR), integrity records, vigilance inputs, disciplinary history and other relevant service documents. After going through this material, the committees unanimously concluded that retiring these officers early was in the public interest in each respective case, indicating the decision was based on a full record review rather than a single complaint.
A Zero-Tolerance Stand on Corruption and Negligence
In its statement, Indian Railways said it follows a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, lack of integrity and inefficiency, adding that integrity, discipline and accountability in public service cannot be compromised. The action taken under the relevant provisions of the Indian Railway Establishment Code is meant to uphold these core values, the statement said. Railways also said officers and employees are expected to take the matter seriously, since the administration has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance toward those who fail to meet essential standards of service.
Similar Action Was Taken in March Too
This is not the first time Railways has taken such a step. In March this year, six negligent officers were forced into VRS in the same manner. The posts held by those officers at the time included CME/Project/HQ in Northern Railway, NF-HAG/IRSME in South Western Railway, SAG/ISRE in South East Central Railway, SAG/IRSSE in Eastern Railway, a Grade-1 post, meaning Under Secretary/Deputy Director level, in the Railway Board Secretariat Service, and PPS in RBSSS. Rule 1802(A) gives the administration the power to retire officers in the public interest, and the recurrence of such action signals that poor performance and inefficiency will not be tolerated at any level of the organisation.
