The Director General (HR), Railway Board, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.
Sub: Removal of Anomalies and Upgradation in the Promotion Prospects of Chief Trains Clerks (CTNC) Cadre and Revision of Dress (Uniform) Code — Reg. **Ref:** (i) Railway Board's Letter No. E (NG)!/2010/PM 2/6 dated 09.05.2019 (ii) Railway Board's Letter No. E (NG)!-2003/CFP/2 dated 22.09.2003
Dear Sir,
We wish to bring to your kind attention the longstanding stagnation and promotion related anomalies being faced by the cadre of Trains Clerks, particularly those holding the designation of Chief Trains Clerk (CTNC), who continue to remain deprived of fair career advancement opportunities.
As per the provisions laid down in Para 126 of the IREM (Vol-I) Revised Edition 1989, the mode of recruitment and promotional channels for Trains Clerks is well-defined. The classification as circulated by the Railway Board, along with promotional quotas from different categories, provides the following route of advancement:
1. 50% through direct recruitment via RRB. 2. 33% by selection from eligible Level-1 categories, including Pointsman 'A' (Level-2). 3. 16% by promotion on merit through a competitive examination for Matriculate Group 'D' employees with a minimum of two years' service.
Furthermore, the promotional avenues outlined are limited to:
Train Clerk → Sr. Train Clerk → Chief Trains Clerk (maximum GP Rs. 4200). (Chief Trains clerk has been re-designated as Chief Trains Supervisor or Chief Trains Superintendent)
A limited number may also be considered for promotion as Goods Guards (Train Manager) and Yard Masters and other categories as per avenue of promotion laid down by the Zonal Railway Administrations keeping in view the broad policy frame work laid down by the Board.
However, these alternative promotion routes benefit only a small fraction, and the majority of the Trains Clerks remain confined to a maximum Grade Pay of Rs.4200, with no further scope for advancement within their cadre. This has led to significant stagnation, de-motivation, and disparity, especially when compared with other similarly placed categories that have witnessed upgradation in their grade pay structure up to GP Rs. 4600 and Rs. 4800.
It is pertinent to highlight the critical role and responsibilities discharged by the Trains Clerks cadre, which include:
1. Preparing and maintaining detailed logs of train schedules, movements, and operational incidents. 2. Managing freight information; recording cargo details, and coordinating with various operational departments. 3. Assisting with the preparation of train rosters and deployment planning in coordination with station masters and control offices. 4. Operating vital IT platforms such as FOIS, COIS, NTES, and handling crucial stock movements (GA-DYT, coaching logistics). 5. Working under extreme weather conditions across yards, sidings, and control offices, often in high-pressure operational environments.
Despite performing such critical and technical functions, no stress allowance is being extended to them, unlike other control office and operational staff. The nature of duties and job profile of the Trains Clerks cadre is significantly different from that of ministerial staff and merits appropriate recognition, fair compensation, and enhanced promotional prospects.
It is also notable that the cadre is not aligned or at par with similarly tasked categories such as CYM, SM, CGS, CBS, CRS, SSE (P.Way), SSE(C&W), SSE (Works), and Office Superintendents, many of whom have been upgraded to higher grade pay levels of Rs.4600, Rs.4800, and even Rs.5400.
Moreover, in the present professional environment, the existing uniform code (white shirt and blue pants) does not reflect the dignity or functional demands of this technical and semi-supervisory cadre. In line with modern practices adopted by reputed PSUs and MNCs, the uniform standards should be updated to ensure comfort, practicality, and professional appearance.
In view of the above, AIRF strongly urges the Railway Board to:
1. Upgrade the pay scale of the Trains Clerks cadre, particularly by introducing a promotional post above GP Rs.4200, and aligning them with similarly responsible Group 'C' categories as stated above. 2. Recognize the cadre's technical, operational, and administrative responsibilities and grant due allowances accordingly (such as stress allowance etc.). 3. Revise the dress (uniform) code in line with modern standards to enhance professional identity and comfort.
We sincerely hope the Railway Board will take urgent cognizance of this genuine and long-pending demand and initiate necessary measures to address the issues of stagnation, disparity in grade pay, and outdated uniform standards for this vital Trains Clerks category of staff.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. We look forward to a positive and expeditious response.
