Transfer of staff on deemed deputation to IRCTC exercise of option

1.            As the Railways are aware, pursuant to the instructions contained in Board’s letter No. 2002/TG-III/600/5 dated 04.02.2003 vide which catering activities of the Railways were transferred to IRCTC on “as is where is basis”, an opportunity was given vide Board’s letter of even number dated 31.3.2003, to all the Gr. ‘C’ and ‘D’ staff working in various catering/vending units of the Railways to exercise their option either for permanent absorption in IRCTC or for reversion to the Railways within a period of three years of the date of handing over of the catering activities to IRCTC, subject to the stipulated conditions.

2.         The staff who opted to come back to the Railways were declared surplus and were/ are being re-deployed as per extant procedure in force for redeployment of surplus staff.

3.         The issue whether another option may be given to such deemed deputationist staff who have opted for reversion to the Railways but are still continuing on the rolls of IRCTC, has been under consideration of the Board for some time.  For this purpose a Committee consisting of Executive Directors of Railway Board, representatives of both the Federations and MD/IRCTC was constituted.  The Committee has considered the issue and inter-alia have recommended that another round of option may be given to the deemed deputationist staff who are still on the rolls of IRCTC.

4.         The matter has been considered by the Board and as a special case, it has been decided that such of the deemed deputationist staff who are still on the rolls of IRCTC may be given an opportunity to reconsider the option exercised by them earlier, and if they now so desire, may exercise option for permanent absorption  in IRCTC.  Such absorption would be on the same terms and conditions as had been allowed earlier in terms of deemed process of law and Department of Public Enterprises‘ guidelines.  Options shall have to be exercised within a period of 90 days from the date of issue of this letter and once exercised, the option shall be final.

5.         In case  option for permanent absorption in IRCTC is not exercised by the said staff within the period specified above, their cases are to be regulated in terms of the instructions contained in letter of even number dated 31.3.2003 and on reversion to the Railways, they are to be treated as surplus staff to be redeployed as per procedure already in force.  Such staff are required to furnish a written  undertaking that they shall not claim their original seniority for their further progress over the staff already promoted or redeployed in the cadre or elsewhere.  Such staff would, however, be released from IRCTC only after receipt of posting order from the concerned zonal Railways which would ensure that on their reversion to the Railways, they do not have to unnecessarily wait for their posting.