Rail babus to now lose seniority for evading transfers

◗ A comprehensive transfer policy issued by the railways in 2015 states that the controlling officer will ensure that the officer transferred is relieved within a maximum period of one month

Railway officers can now lose jobs for trying to delay or evade transfer orders on promotion will now result in railway officers losing their seniority, the railway board has indicated.

The orders issued by the board said that those using such tactics will be debarred from such promotions for a minimum of one year.

A comprehensive transfer policy issued by the railways in 2015 states that the controlling officer will ensure that the officer transferred is relieved within a maximum period of one month.

The board, however, added that officers who are transferred from one zone or unit to the other on promotion often fail to comply with the orders within the stipulated time frame.

“They do not carry out the orders within the stipulated period and try to evade or delay the process by citing one reason or the other,” the board said, adding it causes a lot “administrative difficulties” not only for the railway unit/ zone where the officers continues to remain even after issue of transfer orders but also where he is transferred.

The decision was apparently taken to “curb the rising tendency among officers” of not complying their transfer or promotion orders.

“If an officer does not comply with his/ her transfer- cum- promotion within the stipulated period, it may be treated to be a refusal for promotion and may render the officer liable for debarment from such promotion for a minimum period of one year,” it said.

The railways’ order comes amidst cases of officers trying to wriggle their way out of tough or uncomfortable postings, sources said.

While all civil servants are governed by the Central Civil Services Rules, each cadre has its own set of rules for transfer and promotions within the cadre.

The Central Civil Services rules stipulate the time frame in which officers need to join their new post according to the distance of the new posting to the old one.