RBE No. 102/2004: Conduct Rules – Delay in Decision

No.E(D&A)2004/GS 1-3, dated 20.05.2004

Sub:     Accountability for delay in decision-making.

1.     A Core Group on Administrative Reforms (CGAR) was constituted under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary in February, 2003 to formulate specific changes in the system and procedure in consultation with the ministries/ departments concerned and to advise the strategies for changing attitudes. The Core Group has decided that the existing provisions about accountability mechanism should be reiterated with a view to bring to everyone’s notice that these provisions are adequate for initiating disciplinary proceedings when an officer adopts a dilatory attitude leading to delay in decision making and/or harassment of the public. 

2.     In view of the above, attention is drawn to the following provisions of Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966:-

3. General:-

(1)   Every railway servant shall at all times;

(i)   Maintain absolute integrity;

(ii)  Maintain devotion to duty;

(iii)    Do nothing which is unbecoming of a railway servant;

(2)   (i)   Every railway servant holding a supervisory post shall take all possible steps to ensure the integrity and devotion to duty of all railway servants for the time being under his control and authority;

(ii)     No railway servant shall, in the performance of his official duties, or in the exercise of powers conferred on him, act otherwise than in his best judgment except when he is acting under the direction of his official superior;

Explanation-I:- A railway servant who habitually fails to perform the task assigned to him within the time set for the purpose and with the quality of performance expected of him shall be deemed to be lacking in devotion to duty within the meaning of clause (ii) of sub-rule (1).

Explanation-II:- Nothing in clause (ii) of sub-rule (2) shall be construed as empowering a railway servant to evade his responsibilities by seeking instructions from or approval of, a superior officer or authority when such instructions are not necessary under the scheme of distribution of powers and responsibilities.

3A.  Promptness And Courtesy:-

No Railway servant shall;

(a)            In the performance of his official duties, act in a discourteous manner;

(b)   In his official dealings with the public or otherwise adopt dilatory tactics or willfully cause delays in disposal of the work assigned to him.

3.     Rule 6 of the Railway Servants (D&A) Rules, 1968 provides that the penalties (ranging from ‘censure’ to ‘dismissal’) mentioned therein may be imposed on a Railway servant ‘for good and sufficient reasons’. Thus any railway servant violating the provisions of Conduct Rules can be proceeded against as it will form ‘good and sufficient reasons’ for imposing the penalties prescribed in Rule 6. In other words, disciplinary proceedings could be initiated if an officer adopts a dilatory attitude, leading to delay in decision making and/or harassment of the public.

4.     The above cited provisions should be brought to the notice of all officers and staff on the railways and it may be clarified to them that if they are found responsible for willful delay in disposal of the various types of cases dealt by them, finally leading to delay in decision-making, they shall be liable for disciplinary action in terms of the relevant provisions referred to in para 2 and 3 above.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 102/2004

Forward reference ⇒ RBE No.