Rlys fills ST slots with ‘best among the failed’

The western railways has issued an order stating that the selection of 'best among failed Scheduled Tribe candidates’ be undertaken to fill a senior post in the railways. Shockingly, this order was issued on the same day as the horrific stampede at the Elphinstone Road overbridge.

On September 29, the western railways issued an order that the 'best among failed' ST candidates be selected to fill a reserved grade 'B' post of Assistant Commercial Manager. The letter has been issued to the Divisional Railway Manager and the General Manager of the western railways of all divisions.

The letter suggests that the western railways has given meritocracy the go by even though it knows fully well that efficient railway officials would be required in the wake of the stampede.

The official letter issued by the western railways states that none of the ST candidates who had appeared for the written test had secured the qualifying marks. The candidates were required to score at least 70 percent in order to pass the written test.

It also stated that the two ST candidates, namely, Babulal S Meena and Ashok Kumar Meena, who secured 20 percent marks in the written test, have been considered for selection under the scheme of 'best among failed candidates' against the vacancy reserved for STs. These two failed candidates were also asked to appear for a viva test and further documentation work. The western railway officials said that the selection of best among failed candidates was a government policy which has been followed for several decades.

"There are doctors who have failed in examination and are now providing treatment in hospitals. Hence we must not create a fuss about a scheme allowing failed candidates to work for railways," said Ravinder Bhakar, Chief Public Relations Officer of the western railways.