WCL Nagpur headquarters has no panel to check smoking, intoxicants; Rs 12,500 uniform advance set

Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has its headquarters in Nagpur. A reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application shows that the management has not currently appointed any inspection team, committee or flying squad at the office to check violations of the ban on smoking and intoxicants.

The reply was given on an RTI application by Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha, a Nagpur resident, who filed it on September 3, 2026. In response to his five questions, WCL's Industrial Relations department provided the relevant office noting sheets and documents. The questions were about employees' uniform rules, workplace restrictions, disciplinary provisions, the system of inspection and year-wise records of action taken.

In its written reply, WCL management said clearly that no inspection team, committee or flying squad has currently been appointed by management at the WCL headquarters in Nagpur.

The application also asked about the rules banning cigarettes, bidis, liquor and other intoxicants, gutkha and paan masala in office and mine premises. According to WCL's reply, these provisions fall under the company's certified Standing Orders, which are available on its official website. The reply also cited the same Standing Orders for disciplinary action in case of violations.

Since no inspection committee has been formed, WCL said the question of year-wise details of such a committee's inspections and punishments does not arise. The reply was sent to the Public Information Officer through the office of the Deputy General Manager (Industrial Relations). Its receipt is dated September 17, 2026.

The RTI documents also include Coal India Limited's revised uniform dress-code order. It was issued through an office memorandum dated April 28, 2026, with the reference number CIL/C-5B/JBCCI-XI/Uniform Dress-Code/20. The memorandum says the change was approved at the 490th meeting of the Coal India board of directors and replaces the earlier order of June 6, 2025.

Under the new provisions, eligible employees will get an advance of Rs 12,500 a year for three or more sets of uniform. Employees must submit GST bills for the uniform purchase within two months of receiving the advance. If the bills are not submitted in time, the advance amount can be recovered from salary. Employees close to retirement must submit the bills within two months of receiving the advance or before their last salary is released, whichever is earlier.

For male employees, three grey formal shirts and three black formal trousers are prescribed. Female employees have three options: a grey or maroon formal shirt with black trousers, a grey or maroon kurta/kameez with a black salwar and dupatta, or a grey or maroon saree with a black blouse. They can choose any one option or a mixed set, provided there are at least three sets.

Colour codes are also specified: PMS 444 for grey, PMS 426 for black trousers and PMS 209 for maroon, which is only for female employees. PMS stands for Pantone Matching System, used to keep colours consistent.

The documents bring out two separate aspects of WCL's functioning: the arrangement for uniform allowance and the inspection arrangement at the Nagpur headquarters. The reply does not prove that there are no workplace restrictions. WCL has named its certified Standing Orders as the applicable framework for restrictions and disciplinary action. The uniform documents were issued from the WCL headquarters at Civil Lines, Nagpur, by the Senior Manager (HR/IR/SE) through the eOffice system.