RBE No. 28/1985: Casual Labour – De-casualization

No.E(NG)II/84/CL/53, dated 20.01.1985

Sub: De-casualization of Casual Labour delegation of powers to general managers.

1. Attention is invited to the instructions contained in this Ministry’s letter No.E(NG)II/74/CL/27, dated 20.06.1976 and No.E(NG)II/77/CL/46, dated 27.02.1978 on the subject of De-casualization of casual labourer. A reference may also be made, in this connection to D.O. letter No.E(NG)II/84/CL/49, dated 07.07.1984 from the Addl. Director Establishment to Addl. CPOs of all Indian Railways.
2. The question of delegating some powers to General Managers of Zonal Railways and Production Units for creation of posts on de-casualization has been under the consideration of this Ministry for some time past. The staff side of the Departmental Council of the JCM also had suggested that powers in this regard should be delegated to the General Managers. A similar suggestion was made by AIRF in the PNM Meeting held with them on 17th/ 18th July, 1984.
3. After careful consideration of the matter, the Ministry of Railways have now decided as under:-

(i) Powers to create posts for de-casualization of casual labours are hereby delegated to General Managers of Zonal Railways and Production Units to the extant and for the period indicated hereunder.
(ii) The creation of posts for de-casualization will be on the basis of the report of the Committee of Addl. Heads of Deptts., as already provided for under the instructions cited above.
(iii) This delegation will be confined only to the Works wing of the Civil Engg. Department and to the entire Signal and Telecommunication Department.
(iv) The powers can be exercised by General Managers upto 30th June, 1985.
(v) In the case of the Works wing of the Civil Engg. Department the posts to be created will be in lieu of casual labour sanctions under Inspector of Works, for maintenance of buildings, roads, water supply, bridges and the like, the number of post which can be sanctioned being:-

(a) Either the minimum strength of casual labour working more or less regularly over the preceding five years as assessed by the Committee of three Addl. Heads of Departments; or
(b) 40% of the existing permanent artisan strength and 20% of the existing permanent non-artisan strength,
whichever is less.

(vi) In the case of Signal and Telecom Department the number of posts that can be created would not exceed 75% of the lowest number of casual labour strength maintained in the unit of an Inspector throughout the year during any of the last five years for doing maintenance work of a regular nature likely to continue as adjudged by the Committee of Addl. Heads of Deptt.
(vii) Corresponding casual labour sanctions should be surrendered. These should not be revived.
(viii) Under this delegation of powers for creating post on de-casualization, skilled posts also may be sanctioned in the initial grade of Rs.260-400. Existing skilled casual labour fulfilling the following conditions may be absorbed against posts thus created subject to their being adjudged suitable up to the upper limit of 25% as such posts:-

(a) Should have rendered five years’ service as skilled casual labour,
(b) Should have passed the prescribed trade test,
(c) Should be within the age limit of 25 years, after allowing relaxation to the extent of service put in as casual labour; and
(d) Should have the educational qualification laid down in the Apprentices Act (this being a condition for recruitment of serving employees in un-skilled/ Semi skilled grades against 25% vacancies in the skilled grade).
However, where the circumstances in a particular Railway warrant a larger percentage of posts created and the skilled grade on de-casualisation being utilized for absorption of skilled casual labour (subject to condition stipulated above), it will be open to the Zonal Railway Administration, in consultation with their recognized Unions, to exceed the quota of 25%.
In any case, the posts available after absorption of skilled casual labour in the manner indicated above, will be filled in accordance with the normal rules for filling in vacancies in the grade of skilled artisans.

(ix) The sanction will be accorded personally by the General Manager after the report of the Committee of Addl. Heads of Department has been scrutinized and cleared by the FA&CAO.

4. The Board desire that two reports should be sent to them, one for the period ending 31st March, 1985 (to be sent by 30th April, 1985) and the other for the quarter ending 30th June, 1985 (to be sent by 31st July, 1985), showing the extent to which post have been created in exercise of this delegation of powers, vis-à-vis the existing casual labour strength in the respective units. After considering these reports, the Ministry of Railways will review the matter and decide whether and if so to what extent delegation of powers should continue.
5. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
6. The receipt of this letter may please be acknowledged.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 28/1985

Forward reference⇒RBE No.