Absence of Railway employees due to Lockdown treated as ‘On Duty’

The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) writes to Railway Board to issue instructions to the case of those employees who are kept in quarantine as precautionary measures, the said period may be treated as “On Duty”.

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

No. NFIR/COVID-19/2020

Dated: 31/03/2020

The Member Staff,
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Absence of Railway staff due to enforcement of Lockdown in the country-reg.

Ref: Master Circular No. 10 (Special Casual Leave).

Kind attention of Railway Board is invited to Master Circular No. 10 relating to grant of Special Casual Leave to the staff who could not report to duties on account of Bandh, Curfew and other disturbances.

It has since been brought to the notice of the Federation that the Railway employees who left their Head Quarters on periodic rest/leave could not turn up to duties from 23rd March 2020. It may kindly be appreciated that on account of total “Lock Down of the Nation’, non-availability of train services etc., the employees who left their Head Quarters on weekly rest or leave could not report back on time. Their absence/nonreporting to duty has been due to the circumstances beyond their control.

Some employees although available at their Head Quarters places in the Cities/Towns could not report to duty from 23rd March 2020 due to Lock Down conditions and non-availability of any mode of transport. These cases deserve to be considered for granting Special Casual Leave for the period of absence.

NFIR, requests the Railway Board to kindly issue instructions to General Managers etc., to treat the period of absence in the above cases as Special Casual Leave. NFIR also requests the Board that in the case of those employees who are kept in quarantine as precautionary measures, the said period may be treated as “On Duty”.

Yours faithfully,

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR