Special Report: Seven Retired Senior Officers Still Await Their Lawful Dues Despite Court Orders & Ministerial Approval

Prolonged inaction defies CAT orders, Minister’s directive, and the very principles of justice — leaving senior officers humiliated and disillusioned

In what has become a glaring case of administrative apathy, seven retired senior officers of the Railway Board Secretariat Service (#RBSS) — all Direct Recruit officers of the Civil Services Examinations (1981–1988) and all in HAG/SAG level— continue to be denied their lawfully sanctioned pay re-fixation, pension revision, and arrear payments, despite clear approval from the Minister for Railways and compliance directions following the Central Administrative Tribunal (#CAT), New Delhi’s 2016 judgment.

The issue traces back to a prolonged litigation (OA No. 591/2009 and OA No. 2981/2009), where the Tribunal had ordered revision of seniority list and consequential ante-dating of promotions of the Direct Recruit officers. In implementation of these orders, the Railway Board issued Order No. ERB-I/2024/14/36 dated 14.10.2024, duly approved by Ashwani Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, publishing the revised empanelment of RBSS officers to the grades of Deputy Secretary and above after a staggering eight-year delay.

However, while the serving officers and even a few retired officers have already received their refixed pay and arrears, as per judgement, seven retired Direct Recruit officers — whose names appear in the same order — have been singled out and denied implementation for reasons best known to the administration, despite directions of the Minister for Railways more than a year back on 14.10.2024.

According to sources within the Board, the Pay and Accounts Office (#RailwayBoard) and certain biased Accounts officers have shown reluctance in implementation.

One of the affected officers summed up the collective anguish: “We served the Railways with loyalty and dedication for over three decades. After all these years, to beg for what the Minister himself has approved as per Court judgement, is humiliating. The injustice is twofold — first, our promotions were delayed; now, even after court-ordered correction, our dues are being withheld. This is the hight of humiliation.”

Repeated representations to the Secretary, Railway Board and Member (Finance) — along with personal meetings and formal undertakings to the Pay and Accounts Office — have yielded no response. Files remain frozen, without explanation or accountability.

Retired officers say the issue goes beyond money; it reflects a systemic bias against retirees—who have served more than thirty years for the Railways—where compassion and fairness are often replaced by indifference and bureaucratic ego.

Observers warn that this selective implementation of judicial and ministerial directives undermines not just administrative ethics, but also the credibility of governance specially Railways itself.

As one retired officer poignantly remarked, “At this age, we seek peace, not litigation. We only request for what is rightfully ours — nothing more, nothing less.”

The silence from the administration—despite the Minister’s approval—raises an uncomfortable question: “If justice can be delayed even after it is decided and that too in the case of such high level retired officers, who will ensure it is delivered?”

#Railwhispers will continue to pursue this story until the affected officers receive the justice they have long been denied. Contd.