Seven zonal manager posts remain vacant though Kharge hinted at early notification a fortnight ago

Notwithstanding Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge’s promises and efforts towards filling all vacant posts in the railways, bureaucratic delay appears to be plaguing the process.
Mr. Kharge had announced, well over a fortnight ago, that posts of all divisional railway managers would be filled in a couple of days.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Kharge had given the impression that all formalities had been completed and the appointments merely had to be notified. However, seven zonal general managerial seats continue to hang fire. There has been no word as to what has stalled the notification given that the Minister had himself supervised the process. Proposed names for the general manager posts are first cleared by the CVC, then the Prime Minister and the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
There have been several instances in the past where appointment of the names cleared by the ACC have been withheld by the powers that ruled the roost at the Rail Bhawan and others have instead been favoured for the high posts — of general manager or railway board member. The railway board has just four members as of now with three vacancies. Member mechanical Arunendra Kumar has been given the additional charge of board chairman.
The appointment of a regular chairman and two other members will be done only after clearance from the CVC and the Prime Minister and the ACC. Internal politics and the bribery scam relating to high-level postings have delayed the process of appointment to these posts.
  • Many a time, names cleared by appointments panel have been ignored by Rail Bhawan
  • Proposed names for general manager posts are cleared by CVC, then PM and panel