Transfer: RBE No.123/2000 – Periodical Transfer

No.E(NG)I/2000/TR/17, dated 26.06.2000
(Supplementary Circular No.11 to MC No.24)

Sub: Periodical Transfer of Railway employees.

1. In terms of the instructions contained in the Ministry’s letters (1) E(NG)II/78/TR/85, dated 27.04.1979, (2) E(NG)II/78/TR/82, dated 07.02.1980, (3) E(NG)I/80/TR/28, dated 22.08.1980, 31.12.1981, 19.02.1986 (RBE No. 35/1986) and 16.10.1987 (RBE No. 256/1987), (4) E(NG)II/87/TR/34, dated 27.09.1989 (RBE No. 244/1989) and 17.11.1992, (5) E(NG)I/94/TR/29, dated 02.05.1995 (RBE No. 40/1995), (6) E(NG)I/96/TR/42, dated 26.11.1996 (RBE No. 114/1996). Railway employees holding sensitive posts, including those who frequently come into contact with public and/or contractors/ suppliers, are required to be transferred every four years. For this purpose, a comprehensive list of sensitive posts has also been circulated. The thrust of these instructions is on transfer from one place to another. However, when transfer of such employees to a different place is not possible, they are to be shifted to a different seat in the same place to meet the requirement of periodical transfer.

2. Instructions also exist vide this Ministry’s letters (1) E(NG)I/80/TR/28, dated 22.01.1982, 19.02.1986 (RBE No. 35/1986), 16.10.1987 (RBE No. 256/1987), 21.07.1988 (RBE No. 156/1988) and 13.04.1989 (RBE No. 102/1989); (2) E(NG)I/92/TR/32/JCM(DC), dated 10.08.1993 (RBE No. 124/1993), 05.05.1994 (RBE No. 37/1994) and, 29.06.1995 (RBE No. 64/1995); (3) E(NG)I/98/TR/11, dated 30.10.1998 (RBE No. 250/1998), and 02.11.1998 (RBE No. 251/1998) that Ticket Checking Staff as also other staff in mass contact areas, detected to be indulging in malpractices should be sent on inter-divisional transfer as a matter of policy. Besides, the staff who have repeatedly figured in substantiated Vigilance cases and where penalties have been imposed, are required to be reviewed it appropriate level and such staff are also to be transferred on inter-divisional basis.

3. It has been brought to the notice of this Ministry that the extent instructions on periodical transfers are being interpreted differently by different Railways. The matter has therefore been considered by the Board and the position is clarified in the following paragraphs.

4. The instructions for periodical transfer of Railway employees cover two broad categories of staff:-

(i) (a) The first category includes staff of Commercial Department (such as Commercial Supervisors, Enquiry-cum Reservation Clerks/ Booking Clerks, Goods Clerks, Parcel Clerks, Ticket Checking Staff etc.) and the staff of the Operating Department (SSs/ SMs/ ASMs etc.).

(b) In order to avoid large scale dislocation in the case of this category of staff, periodical transfer may, as far as possible, be effected without involving a change of residence of the staff concerned, so long as the fundamental objectives of such transfers can be achieved by transferring such staff to a different location in the same station or to a different station in the same urban agglomeration.
(c) However, the instructions regarding inter-divisional/ inter-Railway transfer of staff detected to be indulging in malpractices or substantiated vigilance cases shall continue to be strictly complied with.

(ii) In the second category, consisting mainly of staff working in offices such as Pay Bill Sections, Stores Offices, Accounts Offices, Fuel Sections, Medical Department, etc., who cannot normally be transferred to another place for reasons like the seniority unit being different/ very small, the office being localized etc. a change in seat which will result in change in the nature of job being performed by the staff, will meet the requirement of periodical transfer.

5. In the cases of transfers of office bearers of the two recognized Unions to another place outside the existing Trade Union jurisdiction, the instructions contained in Railway Board’s letter No.E(L)61 FE1-43, dated 31.07.1961 shall be applicable. Accordingly, the proposed periodical transfer, if it involves change in the Trade Union jurisdiction may be allowed to pend till the next election of the union office bearers subject to the maximum period of one year, provided the transfer is not necessitate earlier under circumstances indicated in para 4(i)(c) above.