At least one post of GM for each of the Railway services at any point of time
PM Narendra Modi approves new policy to end discretion in senior railway appointments
Distribution of DRM posts based on service-wise seniority eliminating probability of pick&choose
NEW DELHI : The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed byPrime Minister Narendra Modihas approved a new policy to end discretion in senior appointments inIndian Railways. The new policy had mandated that at least one post of GM for each of the Railway services at any point of time – so far there were no stipulated minimum posts of GM.
There has been lot of tussle over filling vacancies of GM level positions lately and government is now expected to fill them up as per the new policy. A senior government official said the new policy would ensure that officers are posted as General Managers (GMs) – a much coveted position – ‘strictly in order of their seniority’ vis-a-vis the date on which the vacancies arise.
This will be a change from the present regime where the vacancies of GM are often bunched together at the time of filling them up and officers end up being posted in a discretionary manner. Similar principle has been brought at the important Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) level posts where a service-wise distribution of DRM posts has been fixed to do away with discretion and provide for posting as DRM based on service-wise seniority eliminating probability of pick and choose.
Also, the new policy had mandated that at least one post of GM for each of the Railway services at any point of time – so far there were no stipulated minimum posts of GM prescribed for each service resulting in a situation where some services did not have a single officer as GM at any point of time. Also, the new policy specifies that carried forward vacancies would be treated as first vacancies for GM in subsequent panel year.
Much jostling has been seen among empanelled officers for posting as GM (Open-Line) since working as same is a mandatory prerequisite for further career progression as member. The new policy says officers who have been empaneled for GM (OL) posts will also be eligible for promotion as members, irrespective of whether they worked as GM (OL).
Also, suitability for GM (OL) posts would now be determined by Departmental Promotion Committee to do away with over-dependence on the certification regarding suitability as GM (OL) in an officer’s Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) and ensure than an officer is assessed fairly and impartially taking into account his entire service record.
Previously, a single entry in APAR of an officer certifying his unsuitability for GM (OL) post could impact his career and instances were seen where an officer with outstanding grading was declared unsuitable for OL or where relevant columns were left blank amounting to denial of posting as GM (OL) and Member. The new policy has also created a post of Advisor (Resource Mobilisation and Development) to be filled on lateral entry of external talent as much needed impetus to the development and modernization initiatives.
Further, the ACC has approved an encadred DG post in apex scale for three railway services – IRPS, IRSSE and IRSS, to fulfill a legitimate aspiration of these organized ‘Group A’ services. To reorganize the Railway Board on functional lines, the posts of the three Members have also been re-designated as Member Infrastructure, Member Rolling Stock and Member Traction.
Advantages of the new policy viz-à-viz the previous policy
The Appointment Committee of The Cabinet (ACC) has approved revision of the previous policy/ guidelines for appointment to senior positions in Railways. The advantages of the new policy vis-à-vis the previous policy are as under-
| PREVIOUS POLICY | NEW POLICY |
| 1. The previous system of distribution of DRMs post amongst various Services was flexible and had an element of discretion and inequity. | Service wise distribution of DRMs posts has now been fixed, thereby doing away the discretion. The new will be more equitable in nature and would also provide for posting as DRM based on service wise seniority eliminating probability of pick and choose. |
| 2. Previously a single entry in APAR of an officer certifying his unsuitability for GM (OL) post could impact his entire career progression. Many instances had been observed where an officer with outstanding grading was declared unsuitable for Open Line or where the relevant columns were left blank amounting to denial of posting as GM (OL) and Member. | The new system whereby the suitability for GM (OL) posts would now be determined by the DPC will do away over dependence on the certification regarding suitability for GM (OL) post in an officer’s APAR and ensure that an officer is assessed fairly and impartially taking in to account his entire service record. |
| 3. Previously, there were no stipulated Min.post of GM prescribed for each Service resulting in a situation where some services did not have a single Officer as GM at any one point of time. | The new policy is more equitable as it mandated at least one post of GM for each Service at any point of time. Each Service can now look for at least one post of GM. |
| 4. It was often seen that vacancies of GMs were bunched together at the time of filling them up and officer posted against them in a discretionary manner. | The new policy would ensure that officers are posted as GM strictly in order of their seniority vis-à-vis the date on which vacancies arise. |
| 5. The previous policy was not clear as to what the date of vacancy would be in case of vacancies being carried forward from one panel year to another. This lack of clarity had an impact on the entire GM Panel. | The new policy specifies that such carried forward vacancies would be treated as the first vacancies of the subsequent panel year, thereby bringing clarity to this issue. |
| 6. The previous system led to jostling Amongst the empanelled officers for posting as GM(OL), since working for GM(OL) was a mandatory prerequisite for further career progression as Member. | The new policy makes officers who have been empanelled for GM(OL) post was eligible for promotion as Members, irrespective of whether They have actually worked as GM(OL). |
| 7. Even though no post of Member, Except that of Finanacial Commissioner (FC) was encadred previously, the system prevalent informally, barring a few exceptions, reserved the post of Member (Traffic), Member (Engineering), Member (Mechanical) & Member (Electrical) for IRTS, IRSE, IRSME & IRSEE respectively. | By encadring these post for the respective services, the new policy has formalized the system black & white and thereby eliminating any scope of discretion. |
| 8. Three Railway Services viz IRPS, IRSSE and IRSS, did not have a single encadred post in the apex scale. | Encadred DG post in the apex scale has been created for these Services, Thereby fulfilling, legitimate aspiration of these organized Group ‘A’ Services for at least one apex level encadred post. |
| 9. There was no scope for infusion of external talent in a formal and sufficiently senior position in Railways previously. | By providing for creation of one post of Advisor (Resource Mobilization & Development) to be filled on lateral entry basis through Central Staffing Scheme (CSS)/Deputation, the new policy ensures entry of external talent at a sufficiently senior level and would provide a much needed impetus to Resource Mobilization and Development at a juncture when Railways are undertaking large scale development and modernization initiatives. |
| 10. Entry through Group ‘A’ Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) had outlived its Utility and was no longer functionally required. | The new policy has discontinued entry through SCRA in the IRSME estream. |
| 11. Many officers, despite being otherwise Suitale, were previously superseded for Promotion as GM/Member on account of their not fulfilling the requirement of minimum residual service, thereby creating of disenchantment and discontent at a very senior level. |
By stipulating grant of non-functional upgradation of pay-scales on personal basis to such superseded officers, the new policy ould a long standing aspirations such officers. |
| 12. Previously, the designation of some Posts of Member in Railway Board was based on trade. This led to departmentalization amongst the officers. | The new policy, with a view to reorganize the Railway Board on functional lines, has re-designated the posts of Member as follows- |
Old Designation New Designation Service in which encadred
(a) Member Engineering Member Infrastructure IRSE
(b) Member Mechanical Member Rolling Stock IRSME
(c) Member Electrical Member Traction IRSEE