SENIOR RAILWAY OFFICERS FINALLY UNDER THE SCANNER

Railways will conduct reviews to identify inefficient officers and smarten up workforce.

Performance of railway officers, who have completed 30 years of services or 55 years of age, will now be reviewed following which, those found inefficient will be forced to retire. 

The railways are now gearing for a smarter workforce with a review meeting to identify inefficient babus. 

The railway officers will conduct a first of its kind review, which is to be completed before March 31. 

One committee for each railway department has been constituted. The committee comprising of three members will have one member from the same department while the other two members will be from a different department to ensure impartial treatment. 

A senior official from Central Railway said, "At present we are in the process of collecting the confidentiality records of officers which will be one of the criteria in grading. The officers will also be reviewed for their integrity and conduct in these meetings." 

The process to form the review committees began after the Prime Minister-led Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) sent a letter stating that the move is to strengthen the administration through premature retirement of railway servants. 

The letter cited an order from the Supreme Court which read, "For better administration, it is necessary to chop off dead wood." 

The General Manager of Western Railway, GC Agarwal said, "We are in the process of reviewing the conduct of the officer. Once it is completed, relevant opinions formed by the concerned committee will be sent across to the Railway Board." 

11 officers from Western Railway have been identified whose performance is to be evaluated. A senior officer from WR said, "The performance of three of the 11 officers had been completed while the remaining officers are yet to be evaluated."