Railway employees' union seeks probe into Nagpur division transfers; administration denies charges

A row has erupted in Central Railway's Nagpur division over staff transfers, the allocation of duties and employees who have remained in sensitive posts for years. The divisional administration and an employees' union are on opposite sides. The Madhya Railway Karmachari Sangh (MRKS), affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, has demanded a transparent transfer policy and raised serious questions about the functioning of the divisional management.

The union says a high-level inquiry should be held against railway employees who have stayed in one place for years in disregard of the rules, and against officers who are protecting this arrangement. It said it would back the demand with documentary evidence.

MRKS general secretary Sagar Singh Tomar has sent a memorandum to the General Manager of Central Railway (Mumbai), alleging violations of rules in the operating department. According to Tomar, the general rule is that the tenure in sensitive posts is three years, with an extension of up to one year. Even so, many station masters, train managers and controllers have stayed in the same place for 10 to 25 years.

MRKS claims some employees do not perform field duty yet continue to receive dress and torch allowances. The union also says sick employees who are eligible for light work on medical grounds are being made to do hard work and night duty. It has accused the Senior Divisional Operations Manager and some other senior officers of autocratic conduct, financial irregularities and vindictive behaviour towards MRKS office-bearers. It has also demanded the immediate transfer of these officers.

Tomar also said it is true that, under a Railway Board circular, the union's permission is needed to transfer union office-bearers. But, he said, this condition applies only up to a limit of one year. Tomar said that if an FIR has been registered against an office-bearer or any legal proceeding is under way, the management can transfer that person immediately.

Tomar alleged that some of the union office-bearers who have been posted at the same station and in the same department for many years in the division had committed a grave offence on January 5, 2024, by taking over the control room and bringing train operations to a halt. According to him, an FIR was registered in the case, but two and a half years later these office-bearers are still on duty in the control room. Tomar asked whether the head of the operating department could guarantee that they would not shut down the control room again, and why the divisional management is so lenient towards such office-bearers.

The administration has rejected the allegations outright. Senior DOM Krishnath Patil said that many employees working in sensitive posts are office-bearers of recognised unions. Under the rules, a no-objection, or consent, from the unions concerned is required for their transfer, so the process takes time. According to Patil, the administration has already sent a proposal for the transfer of such employees to a senior level. He said all of MRKS's misunderstandings had been cleared up and the position made clear.