Inquiry Officers: Empanelment of Retired/ Retiring Railway Officers

No.2000/V-I/CVC/1/7, dated 10.05.2000

Sub: Empanelment of retired/ retiring Railway officers, of Selection Grade and above, for appointment as Inquiry Officers, in DAR Cases, arising out of vigilance investigations, against gazetted Railway Servants.

1. In partial modification of their letter No.99/V-I/CVC/2/Retdrio/1, dated 01.04.1994, the Board have enhanced the age limit for empanelment of the retired/ retiring Railway Officers of selection grade and above, from 64 to 70 years for their subsequent appointment as Inquiry Officers, in DAR cases, arising out of vigilance investigations against gazetted Railway Servants or a combine of gazetted and non-gazetted officials in a composite case on usual terms and conditions.

2. The Ministry of Railways proposes to enlarge the panel of retired Railway Officers of Selection Grade and above, for their subsequent appointment as Inquiry Officers on the usual terms and conditions, a copy of which is enclosed. However, the volunteers retiring in the near future, will not be entrusted any Departmental Inquiry till their retirement.

Terms and Conditions for appointment of Inquiry Officers on ‘case-to-case’ basis, on fixed remuneration, to conduct Departmental Inquiry, under Railway Servants (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1968, in cases initiated on CVC’s advice.

(1) The I.O should not be more than 70 years of age on the first day of July of the year of his empanelment;

(2) The panel will be reviewed every year;

(3) The I.O. shall not engage himself/herself in any other professional work or service which is likely to interfere with the performance of his/her duties as I.O. He/She should be in sound health, physically and mentally;

(4) The I.O. will be entrusted with Inquiries, on case to case basis, by the Disciplinary Authority;

(5) The I.O. shall maintain strict secrecy in relation to the documents he receives or information/ data collected by him/her in connection with the Inquiry and utilise the same only for the purpose of Inquiry in the case entrusted to him/her. No such documents/ information or data are to be divulged to any one during the Inquiry or after presentation of the Inquiry Report. The I.O. entrusted with the Inquiries will be required to furnish an undertaking to maintain strict secrecy and confidentiality of all records/ documents/ proceedings, etc. All the records, reports., etc. available with the I.O. shall be duly returned to the authority which appointed him as such, at the time of presentation of the report;

(6) A lumpsum remuneration of Rs.8000 (inclusive of local transport charges), will be paid to the I.Os per Departmental Inquiry Report, in a case;

(7) In addition to the remuneration of Rs.8000, the I.O will be entitled to an amount of Rs.1400 (Rupees One Thousand and Four Hundred only) also, per Departmental Inquiry Report, for clerical and Stenographic work, which has to be arranged by himself/herself. However, where on demand, the I.O. is provided the services of a serving Stenographer/ typist reduced amount of Rs.1000 (Rupees One Thousand only) for Inquiry, relating to the first charged official and Rs.300 (Rs. Three Hundred only) for each additional charged official, in a case, will be payable to the serving stenographer/ typist;

(8) Besides the above, an amount of Rs.50 (Rs. Fifty only) will be permitted as contingency expenditure, to meet the courtesy requirement of serving Tea/ Biscuits etc. for each sitting of the inquiry. This expenditure will be incurred by the Presenting Officer, duly certified by the Inquiry Officer and will be reimbursed to the Presenting Officer by the Railway Administration;

(9) Since the Departmental inquiries are to be conducted at the Headquarters of the Zonal Railways etc., the duties and responsibilities entrusted to the I.O. would not involve any travel in normal circumstances. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the travelling becomes inescapable, and so approved by the General Manager concerned, the rate TA/DA in such cases will be equal to the rate applicable to the serving officers of equivalent rank;

(10) Inquiry proceedings will be conducted only in the office premises of the Railway so allotted to the I.O. A room with furniture and lockable almirahs, will be allotted to him/her in the concerned office on the days of Inquiry;

(11) The expenditure on account of Stationery/ postage will be borne by the concerned Railway Administration; and

(12) The services of the I.O. may be terminated any time by his appointing Authority, without any notice and without assigning any reasons.

(13) An Inquiry Officers when entrusted with a composite cases comprising of both gazetted and non-gazetted officials, will be required to conduct inquiry against all gazetted and non-gazetted officials. However, honorarium payable for inquiry against each C.O. (whether gazetted or non-gazetted shall be same as mentioned in item (6), (7), (8).

(14) The rate of honorarium for the Presenting Officer is Rs.1000 (Rs. One thousand only) per Inquiry Report.

Download Railway Board Circular dated 10.05.2000

Forward reference ⇒ RBE No.