RBE No. 83/89: Promotion – Minimum Service Condition in Lower Grade
No.E(NG)I/85/PM1/13/RRC, dated 23.03.1989
Sub: Recommendation of Railway Reforms Committee in part IX of their report on ‘Personal’ Matters – Instructions regarding two years service in the immediate lower grade for promotion within Group ‘C’.
Reference this Ministry’s letter of even number dated 19.02.1987 (RBE No. 28/1987) stipulating inter alia that for promotion within Group ‘C’ staff should render a minimum of two years service in the immediate lower grade for promotion to higher grade and clarification issued under Board’s letter of even number dated 04.11.1987. It may be noted that no minimum service condition have been prescribed for promotion within Group ‘D’.
References have been received from some Railways seeking further clarifications with reference to the instructions contained in Board’s letters referred to above. These points are clarified as under:-
| S.No. | Points Raised | Clarification |
| (a) | Weather the instructions regarding going down to the next lower grade when the requisite number of candidates is not available in the immediate lower grade for promotion to selection posts, stand superseded with the issue of Board’s letter No.E(NG)I/85/PM1/13 (RRC), dated 19.02.1987 (RBE No. 28/1987) | Yes. This already been clarified vide Board’s letter of even number dated 04.11.1987. |
| (b) | If the posts are kept un-filled field due to candidates with two years service in the immediate lower grade not being available, they will remain frozen necessitating approval of GM or Board for their revival. | In such a situation, the posts should be downgraded and operated in the lower grade. |
| (c) | The incidence of de-reservation will increase, as reserved community candidates may not be available with the two years service in the immediate lower grade. | This cannot be helped. However, as the Railways are aware, condition of the minimum service has to be fulfilled at the time of actual promotion. |
| (d) | Whether the condition of two years service in the immediate lower grade is applicable in respect of promotion to the post of Junior Account Asstt. where passing of Appe. II exam is preconditional. | Yes. |
| (e) | For promotion to the post of Account Assistant and Sr. Section Officer (Accounts) minimum period of three years service in the lower grade has been prescribed. | This will continue to hold good in terms of para 2(iv) of Board’s letter No.E(NG)I/85/PM1/13 (RRC), dated 19.02.1987 (RBE No. 28/1987). |
| (f) | Weather the condition of two years’ service in the immediate lower grade has to be fulfilled for filling up short-term vacancies on ad-hoc basis. | Yes. Posts should be downgraded if eligible employees are not available. |
| (g) | As service rendered on ad-hoc basis is taken into account for the purpose of reckoning two years period if it is followed by regularization, there may not be any objection to ad-hoc promotions being made against long-term vacancies also by senior most staff who have not completed two years’ service in the immediate lower grade. | No. Even for ad-hoc promotions employee should have completed two years’ service in the immediate lower grade. This ad-hoc service will count for promotion to the next higher grade only, if followed by regularization without break. |
| (h) | Whether a person working, say in Grade ‘C’, but holding currently an ex cadre post and promoted to the next higher grade ‘B’ in his parent cadre on proforma basis, can be considered for the still higher grade ‘A’ in his parent cadre with reference to the service in his parent cadre in Grade ‘B’ rendered proforma. For example, if a Chargeman ‘B’ works in an ex-cadre post of Protocol Asstt. and during such period he is promoted proforma as Chargeman ‘A’ can be considered for the post of Assistant Shop Supdt. without physically holding post of Chargeman ‘B’ for a period of two years. | The fact that he had not held the post physically for a period of two years or has not held it at all, should not make a difference for eligibility so long as on the basis of proforma promotion he should have rendered two years’ service as Chargeman ‘A’. |
| (i) | A person volunteers and is selected for another cadre in a post in the same grade as that held by him in his parent cadre. He has to advance further only in the new cadre. Whether the service rendered by him in the same grade in the earlier cadre can be counted towards the two years period. | In such a case the two years’ service has to be rendered in the new cadre. |
| (j) | Whether the condition of two years’ service is applicable in the case of promotion to posts of Instructors which are ex-cadre and for which men really suitable for the job of teaching are required. | It is not the intention that the two years rule or the rule that promotion should be made only from out of those in the immediate lower grade should apply in such cases. |
[This disposes off CPO/SE Railway’s D.O. No.P/R/14/314/3 (Policy), dated 26.05.1988]
Download Railway Board Circular RBE No.83/1989
Forward reference RBE No.