Front Door Is closed, Back Door Is Open

Huge irregularities in appointment of group D staff on Railways

Recently Ministry of Railways postponed all Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams indefinitely. This is a huge setback to all the unemployed persons who were hoping to get a job through fair means. While RRB exams have been postponed indefinitely, however it is learnt that everyday 20 to 25 people are getting appointed on Railways in Kolkata area at the behest of a coterie around the Minister For Railway. Sources said that The names are sent from the minister’s office after a sum of Rs 4 to 5 lacs is paid. Thereafter the names are processed & these are appointed in Group D on the railways after following a few formalities.

This is highly irregular on the following grounds:

1. When Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs) are available on every zone for processing Group D staff then instead of processing candidates through the (RRCs) why should these people be processed surreptitiously.

2. It violates Articles 14, 15 & 16 of the Indian Constitution, as it does not give equality of opportunity to all eligible candidates. The whole thing is being done in a surreptitious procedure for a monetary consideration to a select few. Since the people appointed to railway jobs will be paid from the public exchequer, the whole thing should be done in a transparent process.

3. Huge money is exchanging hands for these govt jobs. Since at least 400 persons are being appointed every month @ of 5 lacs per person, 200 crores are being earned illegally every month by the coterie.

4. Only people belonging to one party are being favoured at the expense of other more deserving candidates.

5. 6th Pay commission had abolished group D category. It is not understood how railways are continuing to recruit this category through the powers of General Managers. Now we only have Group C category only. Hence all the people should be recruited through Railway Recruitment Boards & not through GM quotas in a surreptitious fashion.

6. 6th Pay commission had laid down the minimum qualification of Class 10 for all categories. However Railway Board has unilaterally reduced the qualification to class 8, so that people without proper qualification can be provided govt jobs.

7. This needs immediate investigation & guilty persons brought to book.

8. Fair play should be ensured for all unemployed youth.