A Railway officers association is up in arms against alleged high handedness of railway authorities at Lucknow for suspension of two officers through verbal orders.
The incident assumes importance as it involves the placing of Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge's Inspection Carriage.
The Federation of Railway Officers' Association in a letter to Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said that "the suspension of officers through verbal orders amounts to gross abuse of power and it flies in the face of the recent Supreme Court ruling that verbal orders should not be passed by superior orders".
However, when asked about the suspension incident, Kumar said, "I am not aware of the development and the Board is not involved here as it happened at the zonal level."
According to the FROA letter, the Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer (DME) and Coach Depot Officer (CDO) at Lucknow division were suspended through verbal orders yesterday for not placing Kharge's Inspection Carriage in front of the VIP gate at Lucknow station due to which the minister had to walk a little.
Kharge was travelling from Lucknow to Kanpur for an official function in the Inspection Carriage, a special saloon meant for the minister.
Ironically the same senior DME was awarded by Railway Minister for his good work a few months ago.
Such action in a democratic country reminds us of the British Raj, or worse still a totalitarian state, the letter stated.
"The suspension order was revoked after the vociferous protest lodged by the officers association," Shubhranshu, General Secretary of FROA said, adding "both the suspension and revocation were carried out through verbal orders which is illegal and it caused humiliation to the affected persons."
FROA has sought a meeting with Kharge over the issue.
