Selection Dispute: Candidates can only opt for one post, their inclusion in both lists violates the sanctity of the selection process

Admin

An Urgent Appeal to Quash the final panels for AEEE/ADEE and AME/AWM (70% Quota) in Central Railway and Representation for Revision of the Final Integrated Seniority List for Group ‘B’ Selection (AEEE/ADEE & AME/AWM – 70% Quota) on grounds of Violation of Standing Instructions, Inconsistent Practice, and Procedural Irregularity

Manoj Kumar Pandey, President, Central Railway Engineers Association (#CREA) written a detailed urgent appeal and a representation on 13.10.2025 to the Chairman/Railway Board to draw his attention for an early justice to SSEs who are aggrieved due to erroneous practice adopted by #CentralRailway Personnel Branch in conducting a fair selection of AME and AEE 70% Quota.

Brief History:

Vide Railway Board letter No. RBE 10/2025 dated 03.02.2025, 70% selections to Group ‘B’ posts in all Departments having organized services were to be conducted in a declared time frame.

Accordingly, seniority list of eligible candidates were prepared and published for raising any objection by the candidates. Objections were submitted to Central Railway HQ by the SSEs for following discrepancies in seniority list. For LPG/LPM/LPP, seniority was decided by considering date of in Grade Rs 5000-8000 to equate with stationary staff in grade Rs 6500-10500.

Till now, LPG, LPM, LPP, seniority was decided by considering date of in Grade 5500-9000 for example panel of 2023 & 2024 were finalized with this bench mark.

The date of entry of #CLI (Stationary post) in Grade Rs 6500-9000 has not been considered to equate with stationary staff in Grade Rs 6500-10500 which is a breach of RBE 92/2015, For them Central Railway Administration considered entry date in scale 5000-8000 for seniority in place of his entry date in scale 6500-10500 (Grade Pay 4600) Level 7.

The above malpractice in selection, led to CLI become senior in integrated seniority list to SSE. Loco pilots also gain seniority position with respect to SSE.

The matter was referred to #RailwayBoard by the Zonal Railways for directions. Railway Board issued the uniform guidelines vide letter no. No E(GP) 2019/2/25 (3379109) dated 12.09.2025 for rectification of seniority list, but reverted its decision vide Railway Board letter no. E(GP) 2019/2/25 (3379109) dated 19.09.2025 and gave free hand to Zonal Railways to proceed as per policy being adopted by individual Zonal Railways.

This decision has caused grave injustice and a complete loss of seniority to stationary staff who are otherwise eligible for promotion.

In addition to this, Five (5) CLIs has been placed on the panel in order of seniority for both AME and AEE judged suitable for both the posts simultaneously vide letter no. P/CR/HQ/GAZ-Sel/260/5/AME/AWM (70%)-1 dated 09.10.2025 and P/CR/HQ/GAZ-Sel/260/2/AEEE (70%)-1 dated 10.10,2025.

Central Railway Administration failed to ensure following while initiating Selection process

Employees who are trained in dual traction are eligible for AME (Group ‘B’ Mechanical) selection and AEE (Group ‘B’ Electrical) selection and they can seek further promotion only in the respective wing either in Electrical or Mechanical. Therefore, such employees should have express their option in advance.

Grounds for Appeal:

The appeal is grounded on the following points:

Violation of Established Seniority Equivalence (RBE 92/2015)

  • The final seniority list equates the date of entry of Loco Pilots (#LPG, #LPM, and #LPP) and Chief Loco Inspectors (#CLIs) in the erstwhile scale of Rs 5000-8000 (Pre-revised Level 6) with stationary staff (SSEs) in the erstwhile scale of Rs 6500-10500 (Level 7).
  • This practice directly violates the principle established in Railway Board’s RBE No. 92/2015, which clarifies the equivalence of running staff in the erstwhile scale of Rs 5500-9000 (Pre-revised Level 6 with Grade Pay Rs 4200) with stationary staff in the Rs 6500-10500 scale (Level 7 with Grade Pay Rs 4600). The running staff in the Rs 5000-8000 scale should be placed below those in the Rs 5500-9000 scale, not equated directly with Level 7 staff.
  • By adopting the Rs 5000-8000 entry date, Central Railway is promoting staff based on service in a substantially junior grade, thereby superseding legitimately senior SSEs.

Inconsistency with Central Railway’s Own Precedent

  • Crucially, the Central Railway itself followed the correct principle in previous selection cycles (2022, 2023, and 2024), where the date of entry into the Rs 5500-9000 scale was considered for equating running staff and CLIs with SSEs.
  • The abrupt, unilateral change in practice for the 2025 selection to the Rs 5000-8000 scale, which Central Railway has been forced to revert to by the letter dated 19.09.2025, is arbitrary and discriminatory against stationary staff and contradicts the established departmental convention.

Ignoring the Stationary Status of CLI and Board’s Own Policy

  • The Railway Board, vide its letter dated 18.07.2025, correctly clarified that the post of Chief Loco Inspector (CLI) is a stationary post.
  • The subsequent clarification on 12.09.2025 correctly mandated that a CLI’s seniority should be determined solely by their length of non-fortuitous service in Level 7.
  • While the Board put this clarity on hold on 19.09.2025 to issue a uniform policy prospectively, the very fact that the Board acknowledged CLI is a stationary post and required Level 7 service strongly supports the SSEs’ contention that service in Level 6 (running staff or equivalent) should not be directly equated for the purpose of seniority integration into Level 7 for a promotion post. CLI seniority must count from entry into the Level 7 equivalent grade, i.e., Rs 6500-10500 / Rs 6500-8000 equivalent.

Egregious Procedural Flaw: Dual Panel Inclusion

  • The selection process suffered a major procedural lapse where five Chief Loco Inspectors (CLIs) were simultaneously included in the final panels for both the Electrical Department (AEEE/ADEE) and the Mechanical Department (AME/AWM).
  • This dual inclusion demonstrates a complete lack of coordination and due diligence, rendering both final panels defective and subject to immediate revision. Since these candidates can only opt for one post, their inclusion in both lists violates the sanctity of the selection process and directly affects the final panel positions of the remaining qualified candidates.

In light of the facts and grounds mentioned above, #CREA humbly request for intervention of the Board to:

  1. Immediately review and cancel the final integrated seniority list that was made “to stand good” vide letter dated 19.09.2025.
  2. Restore the seniority principle previously followed by CR in the 2024 and earlier selections, i.e., equating running staff and CLis from their date of entry into the Rs 5500-9000 scale (Level 6), or, preferably, implement the principle that CLI seniority must be counted from the date of entry into the Level 7 (Rs 6500-10500 equivalent) post.
  3. Quash the final panels for AEEE/ADEE & AME/AWM and re-declare them after removing the name of the five CLIs who appear on both lists and after correcting the fundamental seniority discrepancies.

#CREA makes an appeal to consider the long-term impact on the morale and career progression of SSEs and ensure that the selection is finalized strictly in accordance with Railway Board rules and fair practices and accord Justice to deprived SSEs. To highlight the disparity in Central Railway, a comparative statement of basis of seniority for CLI and LP is enclosed for ready reference.