RPF administration carries out reshuffle amidst Covid-19 outbreak

Even as Railway Board had advised freeze on annual transfers, PCSC issued transfer orders of dozen of RPF personnel

Overriding the order of Ministry of Railways, Railway Protection Force (RPF) carried out transfers of 12 officials in Central Railway Zone. In light of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Railway Board had advised Zonal Railways not to go through annual transfers.

Further the May 12, 2020, letter by Sunil Kumar, Executive Director, Estt. (N), Railway Board, said that competent authority has asked to hold orders of staff working on sensitive posts till July 31. Notwithstanding the directions from the Railway Board, Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC), Central Railway, went ahead and issued orders of 12 officers in rank of Inspector.

The orders were issued on June 1, 2020, wherein the officers were inter-changed between various units within Central Railway Zone. This includes an order that of a store in-charge while other 11 are active duty officers. Throughout the country where normalcy has been disturbed, every Government establishment has decided not to go ahead with the process of annual transfers.

Even State Government units have thought it prudent to cancel the annual exercise as situation in field is not conducive for the transfers and postings.

This is so as at many places restrictions remains in force on inter-district travel and more so in state of Maharashtra where the Central Railway headquarters are located.

Inspite of such situation, the force reacted with shock on learning about issuance of transfer list by the office of PCSC. As usual the reason mentioned for transfer of the 12 personnel is administrative grounds, that in simple terms is simply cryptic.

What was such an emergency that RPF could not wait for one more month when new orders would have come from Board and restrictions on inter-district movement to could have been lifted. Once transfer order is issued it akin to race and transferred officials are need to join the new posting as early as possible.

In the crisis time of pandemic, it is difficult to transfer the family and school of children from one town to another. It is more difficult during the period of lockdown when transport sector is facing many restrictions.

Incidentally, transfer orders were issued with the signature of Prem Nath Rai, Staff office to PCSC (PCSC) of Central Railway. Now with transfer, the officers are also entitled for TA/DA as applicable to their ranks.

With Railway finances already under strain, what was the need for such exercise, the force is wondering, off course they being of uniformed cadre have to remain anonymous while giving their reactions.

When contact, PCSC/CR Atul Pathak told ‘The Hitvada’ that the transfers were carried out on the basis of emergency requirements. Similarly, before issuing the order prior approval was taken from the Director General of Railway Protection Force, New Delhi. Another official said that the order of Minister of Railways was not for the RPF as it is the disciplinary force. “When all government officers were shut down, the RPF staff was working round the clock,” he said.

Earlier too this exercise done by RPF administration which got affected so many RPF personnel when they were stuck as and where present when nationwide lockdown was announced. They were permitted to report nearby RPF post and can do their duties till further orders, then all of sudden they were ordered to report at their original post as early as possible.

In compliance of the order of RPF authorities the stuck RPF personnel were hurriedly taking goods train and or whichever transport was available one after the other. With all this hassel they reached their original post without any social distancing and got affected by the pandemic still RPF administration have no concern for them.

It also be noted that the RPF personnel whose transfer was differed for one year for their wards to complete their board exams, were also transferred in between despite the lockdown. Instead of extending the postponed transfers the transfer order were issued without taking the nationwide lockdown into concern.

This exercise was carried out throughout Indian Railways which has put thousands of RPF personnel and their families not only at the risk of infection in this pandemic but also in a very hardship.

#Input by: The Hitvada