(a) whether the Railways provide passes to their employees and officers for free travelling by trains with family every year;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of passes given to each employee and officer;
(c) whether the Railways have taken note that the passes are being misused due to some technical fault as reported in the print media; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Railways to check their misuse?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): Railway officials are given privilege passes as part of their service conditions which are admissible for Self, family, dependent relatives and adopted child. Gazetted railway officers are given 6 sets of privilege passes in a year whereas non-gazetted railway employees are given one (01) set of privilege pass upto the end of 5th year of railway service in a year and thereafter 3 sets in a year.
(c): No such instance of misuse of Railway pass due to some technical fault has been reported in the past. However, checks are conducted from time to time to curb the instances of misuse of railway passes. Moreover, for railway employees, in case the misuse of railway pass is established, a provision has been made for deterrent punishment in the form of dismissal or removal from service or reduction to a lower post depending upon the seriousness of the offence.
(d): 12 cases of misuse of passes detected by Vigilance Directorate of Ministry of Railways during the year 2014-15 (till date), are under investigation.