Recruitment – Reservation of Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

No.E(NG)I/2017/RC-2/1 Policy, dated 14.08.2019

Sub: Reservation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) for recruitment from open market – List of posts identified suitable for them – regarding.
Ref: (i) Board’s letter of even No. dated 16.02.2018 (RBE No.23/2018)
(ii) Board’s letter of even No. dated 27.02.2019
(iii) Board’s letter of even No. dated 18.04.2019

1. Vide reference (i) above (circulated as RBE No. 23/2018) the quantum of reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) was increased from 3% to 4% of the total number of vacancies for direct recruitment in keeping with the provisions of the relevant Act. Subsequently in view of the current and imminent open market notifications, a provisional short listing exercise to determine suitability of posts in various categories of PwBD was done and circulated for information and guidance of Railways. It was mentioned in this letter that requisite percentage of reservation as per extent provisions is to be ensured.
2. References have been received from both Blind candidates and Associations representing them that blind candidates are not being empaneled (in the context of CEN/02/2018 recruitment notifications) as per their panel merit on the grounds that there are no posts that are suitable to accommodate such candidates. It may be recalled that vide reference (iii) above, this issue had been flagged by Board and Railways were advised to examine and readjust the distribution between blind and LV candidates to the extent possible to ensure that blind candidates figuring as per their merit are not excluded from being empaneled under the VI quota only on this account.
3. Representations however continue to be received that Board’s advisory referred to at (iii) above is not being implemented in true spirit by Railways. It is pointed out that Board’s letter at Ref. (ii) regarding provisional short listing of identified posts for various PwBD categories/ subcategories was supplementary to the 3% reservation already earmarked as per then provisions vide Board’s letter No.E(NG)II/2014/2/1, dated 14.02.2014. This letter of 14.02.2014 clearly states that the list of identified PwD posts is not exhaustive and that Railway administration are free to identify more posts locally. The earlier circular of Board issued under E(NG)II/2009/RC/2/5 List, dated 27.08.2009 also includes the same enabling provision. It is therefore made clear that Railway administrations are free to earmark more posts [beyond the provisional identified list as circulated vide Ref. (ii) above] for empaneling PwBD candidates to fulfill the reserved percentage quota. Railways are advised to make use of this enabling provision in letter and spirit to ensure that within a PwBD main category (such as VI) candidates who otherwise qualify in terms of merits are not excluded from appointment on account of the notified posts not been declared suitable for their relevant sub-categorization (such as fully Blind). Such additional short listing of suitable posts may be done by each Railway within the extent of around 1% reservation notified for each PwBD main category.

Download Railway Board Circular dated 14.08.2019

Forward reference⇒ Dated 13.11.2019