After the allegation of Railway officers that there were irregularities in senior postings, Railway workers today claimed there were "certain loopholes" in the promotion process at the top level which "facilitate scope for favouritism on face-value or other considerations".
"The recent incident of bribery for promotions and charges of corruption, particularly on the people at such a high-level have badly tarnished the image of the Indian Railways," the All-India Railwaymen's Federation said in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth.
Drawing the Cabinet Secretary's attention, the Federation said, "There should be no doubt about the fact that there are certain loopholes in the process of promotion at the apex level, which facilitate scope for favouritism on face-value or other considerations.
"This is the only reason, that the rules are interpreted on the basis 'you show me the face; I will show you the rules'. This unpleasant situation could have been avoided, which has impaired the credibility of the entire system."
The Federation has suggested that in order to avoid controversies, the vacancies at all levels should be filled in advance and that too on seniority basis and transparently.
Railway Board Member (Staff) Mahesh Kumar was arrested by the CBI on Friday last for allegedly bribing Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla for becoming Member (Mechanical) in the Railway Board. Kumar has been suspended from the service. The CBI has arrested eight persons in connection with the alleged bribery case.
Yesterday, the Federation of Railway Officers' Association had written a letter to the Cabinet Secretary alleging that the Ministry "often plays by different rules or bends rules for postings of senior officers beyond recognition."
The Association had said that senior posts of General Manager are kept vacant for months while in cases of vacancies of members in Railway Board, proposals to the Appointments Committee of Cabinet are sent at the eleventh hour.
