Question : ISSUE OF RAILWAY PASSES TO EMPLOYEES

(a) whether the Government is aware that if both husband and wife employed in Railways as Gazetted Officers are eligible to avail 6 sets plus 6 sets First Class Free Railway Passes per annum from the day one of their entry into service and 1 set plus 1 set Second Class Free Railway Pass per annum for non-gazetted railway employees up to 5 years from the day one of their entry into service and after 5 years 3 sets plus 3 sets free passes made issuable to non- gazetted railway employees;

(b) if so, the reasons for this disparity regarding eligibility conditions fixed for non-gazetted railway employees of issue of 1 set Free Railway Pass up to 5 years;

(c) whether in CSS Cadre if both husband and wife are employed as government servants either husband or wife is eligible to avail LTC facilities; and

(d) if so, the reasons as to why the same rules are not applicable in Railways?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI R.VELU )

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): The eligibility of Railway employees to different number of set of passes is based on their status and pay.

(c): As per the extant instructions, where husband and wife both are Government servants, they could at their option, choose to declare separate home town and both of them may claim the concession separately under the normal provisions of Central Civil Services (CCS) (Leave Travel Concession)Rules, 1988 in respect of the members of their respective families subject to the condition that if husband or wife avails the facility as a member of the family of the other, he or she will not be entitled for claiming the concession for self independently.

(d): Railway employees and employees of CSS cadre are governed by different sets of Rules. As such, no comparison can be drawn.