RBE No. 192/2018: Promotion – Non-functional Upgradation – Procedure – Group ‘B’

No.E(GP)2003/2/22, dated 12.12.2018

Sub: Grant of non-functional scale to Group ‘B’ Officers of organized services on 100% basis after completion of 4 years of regular service – Procedure regarding.
Ref: Board’s letter No.E(GP)98/2/82, dated 09.12.1998 (RBE No. 278/1998) and E(GP)2003/2/22, dated 16.06.2003 (RBE No. 93/2003) & 03.09.2004 (RBE No. 196/2004).

1. In terms of ministry of Railways Notification No.PC-VII/2017/RSRP/1, dated 08.03.2018 (RBE No. 37/2018); the higher scale of Level 10 has to be operated to the extent of 100% of the Group ‘B’ officers on roll including Group ‘B’ officers officiating in Level 11 on Ad-hoc basis after completion of 4 years of regular service in the respective grades in Organized Departments.

2. In this regard a few references have been received from Zonal Railways wherein they have sought clarifications with regard to the procedure to be followed in the cases of pay fixation of officials working in senior scale ad-hoc, application of reservation rules, date of assessment of these vacancies, etc. Accordingly, Board has decided to clarify that following procedure should be adopted for placement of these officers in the higher scale;

3. Procedure for placement of Group ‘B’ officers in the higher scale:-
3.1 All Group ‘B’ officers with minimum of four years regular service in Level 9 in Accounts Department and Level 8 in other organized Department shall be eligible for consideration for grant of higher Group ‘B’ Non-Functional Up-gradation scale of Level 10.
3.2 The Group ‘B’ officers who are officiating in Senior Scale, after having been found suitable by the Committee of HODs as per extant procedure, shall be granted non-functional up-gradation in Level 10 w.e.f. 08.03.2018, subject to completion of four years service in Group ‘B’ in Level 8 in respect of Non-accounts department and in Level 9 in respect of Accounts Department. On grant of Non-functional scale in Level 10, such officers would continue to officiate in Level 11.
3.3 The General Manager will constitute a Committee for this purpose, which will consist of 3 Heads of Department including the PCPO/CPO, the HOD of the concerned Department and another HOD. If none of the Committee members belongs to SC/ST, a fourth officer belonging to SC/ST, not below JAG, may be co-opted as a member of the Committee.
3.4 The same procedure for assessment of suitability, as has been prescribed for ad-hoc promotion of Group ‘B’ officers to Senior Scale, will be adopted by the Committee for placement of Group ‘B’ officers in the higher Group ‘B’ Scale of Level 10, i.e. the Committee may assess the fitness of the officer based on his performance as reflected in his APAR for the preceding 5 years period. The Committee should categorize the officer as ‘Fit’ or ‘Not Yet Fit’ on the basis of overall assessment of the reports and not merely on the basis of grading/ fitness assigned in the reports. Those categorized as ‘Fit’ should be placed in the higher scale of pay in the order of their Seniority.
3.5 The recommendation of the committee will be submitted to the General Manager for approval and placement in the higher scale will be ordered accordingly.

4. As the higher scale of Level 10 has now been extended to 100% of the Group ‘B’ officers on roll, reservation rules are not attracted.

5. Seniority for purpose of absorption in Group ‘A’/ Junior Scale and ad-hoc promotion to Senior Scale:-
5.1 The Officers, even after their placement in higher scale of Level 10, will be classified as Group ‘B’ only.
5.2 For the purpose of promotion to Group ‘A’/ Junior Scale, the placement of officers in the higher scale of Level 10 may not be given any weightage, as is the position in the case of Group ‘B’ officers who are placed in the Senior Scale of Level 11 on ad-hoc basis. All the Group ‘B’ officers, weather in Level 8 (Level 9 in Accounts Department) or in Level 10 may be arranged in the order of their original seniority in Group ‘B’ for the purpose of consideration for promotion to Group ‘A’/ Junior Scale or for promotion on ad-hoc basis to Senior Scale. Similarly, the residency period should remain as per extant rules regarding non-fortuitous service in Group ‘B’ irrespective of whether the officer in Level 8 (Level 9 in Accounts Department) or in Level 10.

6. The Non-functional up-gradation shall be done on the same lines as brought out above with effect from the date of notification i.e. 08.03.2018 (RBE No. 37/2018) and thereafter w.e.f. 1st January and 1st July of subsequent years.

7. Further, for consideration of officers for placement in the higher Group ‘B’ scale of Level 10, the Senior Group ‘B’ officer should be deemed to have rendered the service put in by his immediate junior, and if that happens to be 4 years or more, he should be considered for placement in the higher Group ‘B’ scale of Level 10.

8. Pay fixation on grant of Non-functional up-gradation:-
8.1 On grant of Non-functional up-gradation in Level 10, pay of Group ‘B’ officers, working in Level 8 and 9, shall be fixed as per provisions of RS(RP) Rules, 2016. Illustration in this regard is enclosed at Annexure-I.
8.2 On grant of Non-functional up-gradation in Level 10, pay of such Group ‘B’ officers already officiating in Level 11 shall be regulated as per illustration in this regard enclosed as Annexure-II.
8.3 Benefit of Rule 1313(I)(a)(i) of R-II shall be applicable on grant of Non-functional up-gradation. Date of annual increment shall be regulated by provisions of Rule 10 of RS(RP) Rules, 2016.

9. Necessary action may accordingly be taken urgently. Please acknowledge receipt.

Annexure-I

(a) Fixation of pay on Non-functional Up-gradation from Level 8 to Level 10 with effect from 08.03.2018 and thereafter with effect from 1st January and 1st July of subsequent years (applicable for Non Accounts Department Officers).

(b) Fixation of pay on Non-functional Up-gradation from Level 9 to Level 10 with effect from 08.03.2018 and thereafter with effect from 1st January and 1st July of subsequent years (applicable for Accounts Department Officers).

Annexure-II

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 192/2018

Forward reference⇒Dated 06.08.2019, RBE No.127/2022,