(a) whether each employee of Signals and Telecommunications Department of Railways are compelled to perform duty for 24 hours at road side stations;
(b) if so, the details and reasons therefor; and
(c) if not, the details of the duty roster of the employees of these departments?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) & (b) No, Sir. Signal and Telecommunication staffs are performing duty as per regulations of Hours of Work and period of Rest provision. However, they are called after duty hours in case of emergencies, failures of Signalling and Telecom gears etc. for which they are compensated.
(c) The working hours of all Railway Servants including those belonging to Signal and Telecommunication Department on Railways are regulated in accordance with the provisions contained in Chapter XIV of Railways Act, 1989 and the Railway Servants (Hours of Work & Period of Rest) Rules, 2005.
Further, under rule 3 of the Railway Servants (Hours of Work and Period of Rest) Rules, 2005, the Head of the Railway Administration is the prescribed authority to decide the classification / working hours as per statutory provisions.
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