The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has opined that continuous night shift for three days should be avoided for loco pilots and that Railways cannot shun responsibility in case of accidents while such personnel are on duty.
Commission chairperson J.B. Koshy made this observation on a petition filed by the National Federation of Indian Railway and Divisional Secretary of the Southern Railway Employees Sangh B. Subash Basi.
The commission asked the General Manager, Southern Railway, and the Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram, to file a detailed report by October 20 on the duty of loco pilots and those involved in the security of trains. A copy of the order had been given to the Railway Board chairman.
Mr. Koshy pointed out that a Railway Board directive had clearly stated that the running staff should not be allowed to work for more than six hours during night. The continuous work of the loco pilots for three nights would affect the safety of commuters, he pointed out. The commission will consider the case on October 31.