Qualifying services for issue of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes
R.B.E.No 65/2008
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
No. E(W) 2006/PS5-1/28
New Delhi, dated 8-05-2008
The General Managers (P),
All Indian Railways &
Production Units.
Sub: Qualifying services for issue of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes.
Pursuant to the announcement made by the Hob’ble M.R during presentation of Railway Budget 2007-2008, instructions were issued vide Board’s letter of even number dated 18-04-2007 for taking into account a weightage equivalent to half of their previous non-railway service rendered in Central Government, by Ex-servicemen and Central Government employees recruited in the Railways, for determining their eligibility for Post Retirement Complimentary Passes on the basis of length of service in the Railways under the Pass Rules.
2. With reference to the above instructions, certain issues have been raised by some of the Zonal Railways. The issues raised have been considered by the Board and it is clarified as under:-
(i) The decision to count half of the previous Central Government service is for the purpose of making good the shortfall in the minimum required Railway service of the lateral entrants to Railway service, in order that they become eligible for Post Retirement Complimentary Passes. In such cases, the number of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes shall be as admissible on completion of 20 years of railway service only. In other words, this benefit will not make the retired employees eligible for higher number of passes.
(ii) The decision to count half of past service of Ex-servicemen and Central Government employees along with railway service, for determining their eligibility for Post Retirement Complimentary Passes, has been taken on the ground that their past service is also counted for pensionary benefits. There is no provision in the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition, 1993) to determine whether the past non-Railway service can be counted along with railway service or not. Since such a provision exists only in Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, the benefit envisaged in Board’s letter dated 18-04-2007 shall accrue only to those employees whose past service has been counted along with railway service for pensionary benefits.
(iii) The benefit of counting half of the previous Central Government Service, as laid-down in Board’s letter dated 18-04-2007, shall also be available to all those, who had retired prior to 18-04-2007.
3. Further to the instructions dated 18-04-2007 under reference, it has now been decided by the Ministry of Railways that the benefit of counting half of previous Government Service for determining the eligibility for Post Retirement Complimentary Passes shall also be available to all the retired railway servants where previous non-railway service has been counted along with railway service for pensionary benefits.
4. It has therefore been decided that provision contained in (xi) below Column No. 3 in Schedule-IV (Post Retirement Complimentary Pass) of Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition, 1993) which have earlier been amended as per Advance Correction Slip No. 53 in terms of Board’s Letter of even number dated 18-04-2007 may further be amended as per enclosed Advance Correction Slip No. 56.
5. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
(Debasis Mazumdar)
Joint Director Estt. (Welfare)
Railway Board.
Advance Correction Slip No. 56 to the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition, 1993)
Item No. (xi) below Column No. 3 in Schedule-IV (Post-Retirement Complimentary Pass) of Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition, 1993) may be substituted as under:-
(xi) Period of service rendered by employees in non-railway departments or establishments prior to joining railway service will not count except where such non-railway service has been counted along with railway service for pensionary benefits. In respect of Railway Servants whose past non-railway service has been counted along with railway service for pensionary benefits, a weightage equivalent to half of such non-railway service will be taken into account for the purpose of making good the shortfall in the minimum required 20 years of railway service in order that they become eligible for Post Retirement Complimentary Passes and in such cases the number of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes shall be as admissible on completion of minimum required twenty (20) years of Railway service only.
(Authority: Railway Board’s No.E(W)2006/PS5-1/28 dated 08-05-2008)