Validity of Complimentary Card passes to freedom fighters and their widows in Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains

1.  In terms of Railway Board’s letter No. E[W]89PS5-6/13 Vol.I dated 31.08.1989 freedom fighters/their widows receiving pension from Central revenues under the Swantantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme of Ministry of Home Affairs, are issued Complimentary Card passes on life time basis for free rail travel on All Indian Railways [except Metro Railway /Kolkata] in 1st Class /2nd AC along with a companion in same class by any train other than Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains. 

2.         The issue of permitting freedom fighter to travel in Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains on the Complimentary Card passes provided to them was under consideration of Ministry of Railways in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs .  It has now been decided that 1st Class/2nd AC Complimentary Card Passes issued to freedom fighters/their widows shall be valid for travel in 3rd AC of Rajdhani trains and Chair Car[CC] of Shatabdi/ Jan Shatabdi express trains along with a companion in same class, in addition to the existing facility.  Accordingly to implement the decision, following may be stamped on the Complimentary Card passes issued to freedom fighters/their widows:

            “Valid for travel in 3rd AC in Rajdhani trains and Chair Car [CC] in Shatabdi/Jan-Shatabdi trains along with a companion in same class.

                                                            Signature of the issuing authority.”

3.         Other conditions as contained in Board’s letter dated 31.08.1989 shall remain same.

4.         This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.

*****

Copy of Board’s letter No. E[W]89PS5-6/13 Vol.I dated 31.08.1989 [RBE No. 221/89]

Sub: Issue of Complimentary Card passes to freedom fighters and their widows.

*****

            Ministry of Railways have decided that the Freedom Fighters receiving pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension scheme from Central Revenues on account of their participation in the Freedom  Struggle for the independence of the country and their widows receiving Freedom Fighters Pension may be issued First Class 'All India' Complimentary Card Passes, valid for two persons i.e. self and companion on a life-time basis. The passes are, however, to be granted for a period of one year from the date of issue in the first instance and renewed subsequently by the grant of fresh card passes again valid for a period of one year from the date of issue/renewal.

2.         These passes will be issued on the same terms and conditions, as are given in Board's letter No.E(W)84PS5-6/8 Vol.II dated 27.05.1988, which are, for facility of reference and guidance, again reproduced below:­

i)       Entitlement:- Fresh First Class ‘All India' Complimentary Card Passes should be given to the Freedom Fighters who are drawing pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension scheme on account of their participation in the Freedom Struggle for the independence of the country and to their widows who are drawing pension from the Central Revenues.  Freedom Fighters /their widows are entitled to take a companion, who may be any person, as desired by the Freedom Fighter/widow of Freedom Fighter.  The card passes issued on the last occasion should be surrendered by the Freedom Fighters  while approaching the Railway Authorities for issue of fresh Card Passes. 

ii)    Class of Eligibility:- First Class with permission to travel in AC Sleeper Class without making any additional payment.

iii)     Type of Card Pass:- Specially designed First Class Complimentary Card Passes which have been/are being supplied to the Railway Administrations, may be issued to the Freedom Fighters and widows of freedom fighters. 

iv)     Validity of the Pass:- The passes now granted are being given on a life-time basis. The same will, however, be granted initially for a period of one year, to be renewed annually, thereafter, by following the same procedure as under:

v)     Issuing Authorities:-  The Office (Pass Section) of Divisional Railway Managers of the different Railways  as well as the Zonal Railway Headquarters Office may be authorized to issue passes on receipt of :-

(a)  Two passport size photographs of the Freedom Fighters /widow of Freedom Fighters, who is entitled to the pass;

(b)   The Old Card Pass, if any, issued earlier and since expired; and

(c)  Photocopy of and original Pensioner’s half of the Pension Payment Order, the latter for verification, endorsement and return as stated in sub para (vii) below.

 The fresh card passes   will be issued from the same offices of the Zonal Railway Headquarters/Divisional Railway Managers, where from the previous Card Passes were issued.  However, in case of emergency and exceptional circumstances, any one of the Zonal Railway Headquarters/Divisional Railway Managers may issue the pass on surrender of the old card pass and receipt of 2 copies of photographs.  In such cases, however, the matter of having issued a fresh card  pass shall be intimated to the Office of the Zonal Railway Headquarters/Divisional Headquarters concerned, wherefrom the original pass was issued for their reference and record.

vi)        Travel Jurisdiction :- Card passes  issued to the Freedom Fighters /widows of freedom fighters  will be available over all Indian Railways from any station to any station, except on the Metro Railway, Calcutta.  These passes will also not be available by Rajdhani Expresses/Shatabdi Expresses.

vii)           Endorsement:-  In those cases where old Card Pass is to be renewed, suitable endorsement in red ink should be made in fresh card pass under issue, giving the old card pass No. and date of issue.  It will be appreciated if a suitable rubber stamp for the purpose could be got made and affixed on the fresh card pass.  Suitable endorsement on the original Pensioner’s half of the Pension Payment Order of the Freedom Fighters /widow of Freedom Fighters  should also be made giving the fresh Card Pass No., date of issue and Date of Expiry under the signature of the Pass Issuing Authority concerned and the Pension Payment Order should be returned to the freedom  fighter concerned immediately after doing the needful.

viii)          Maintenance of Account :-  The Pass Issuing Authorities at the Zonal Railway Headquarters and at the Divisional level may be directed to maintain a separate account in a proper ledger giving all the requisite details of the passes issued to the Freedom Fighters/widow of Freedom Fighters giving the following particulars:-

               a)         Name of the Freedom Fighter/                            :

                           Widow of Freedom Fighter

               b)         Pension Payment Order Number                        :

                           and Date of Issue

               c)         Issuing Authority of Pension                               :

                           Payment Order

               d)         Name of  Pension disbursing                              :

                           Authority – Treasury/Bank/

                           Post Office/Pay & Accounts

                           Officer.

               e)         Card Pass Number and date of issue                   :

    f)         Date of Expiry                                                   :

The pass issuing authorities should also be directed to send intimation of having issued the Card Passes  to the Freedom Fighters /Widows of Freedom Fighters to the Pension Disbursing Authorities viz., Nationalized Bank Branch/Post Office/Treasury/Pay & Account Officer, as the case may be, who makes the payment of pension, and whose name and address are given in the Pension Payment Order giving the requisite particulars i.e. name of the Freedom Fighter /Widows of Freedom Fighter, Pension Payment Order No., Card  Pass No., Date of Issue, Date of Expiry, etc. for making necessary entries in their ledger as well as in the disburser’s half of the Pension Payment Order in red ink .  Acknowledgement form may be printed at the bottom of the letter addressed to the Disbursing Officer by the Pass Issuing Authority in order to ensure that a reply by the Disbursing Officer is duly sent.

ix)             Return :-  (a)  The Pass Issuing Authorities at the Divisional level should also be instructed to submit a statement of account in regard to number of passes issued every month as in the proforma enclosed (Annexure ‘A’) in duplicate by 5th of the following month to the Headquarters Office.  A consolidated monthly statement in the prescribed form (Annexure ‘B’) along with a copy of the statement as in Annexure ‘A’ supplied by the Divisional Headquarters should also be submitted to the Board’s Office by the Headquarters of the respective Zonal Railway which should reach by 10th of the following month.  For instance, the statement for the month ending September, 1989, should be furnished to the Board by 10th October, 1989, positively.  Statement for the duplicate Card Passes issued in lieu of lost Card Passes may be sent separately along with statements referred to above and in the same proforma as at Annexure ‘A’.

              (b)  However, a wireless message giving the total number of fresh Card Passes issued in a given month should be sent to Board’s Office by 5th of the following month positively.  While doing so, the number of blank Card Passes  in stock should also be intimated separately to regulate supply of Card Passes  from the Board’s Office.

x)               In case of loss of Card Pass  a duplicate Card Pass may be issued.  However, the matter of the loss of Card Pass  should be reported to the nearest Railway  Stations/Police Authorities.  A sum of Rs. 150/- may be charged for the loss of Card Pass.  Duplicate Card Pass  will be valid up to the date of validity of the lost Card Pass.

xi)               Widower or any other dependents of the Freedom Fighters/Widows will not be  entitled to the complimentary card pass.

xii)              Any person found using the Freedom Fighter’s pass unauthorisedly will be taken up suitably under the extant rules.

xiii)              The Card  Pass will be returned to the Pass Issuing Authority on expiry of  validity and kept in safe custody till reimbursement of the cost is received by the Board.

3.              It may be reiterated that passes issued under the scheme will be valid for a period of one year from the date of issue and they will come up for renewal every year.  These passes  should not repeat not be made valid for more than one year at a time.

4.              It may please be ensured that the Pass Issuing Authorities extend due courtesy and respect to the Freedom Fighters and do not cause any inconvenience to them.

5.              Further, clarification/doubts, if any, in the matter should be sought/clarified from the Ministry of Railways promptly to ensure issue of the Card Passes to the Freedom Fighters /Widows of Freedom Fighters expeditiously.

****

ANNEXURE ‘A’

CARD PASSES TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS /WIDOWS

DETAILS OF FIRST CLASS/DUPLICATE* COMPLIMENTARY CARD PASSES  ISSUED DURING THE MONTH OF ___________________.

RAILWAY_________________________________________.

ANNEXURE ‘B’

 RAILWAY________________________

No. of Card Passes  issued during the month of _______________ (to be communicated through a wireless message with a confirmatory copy, every month)

(a)         No. of fresh card passes                    :

              issued for the first time

 (b)          No. of card passes reissued              :

              on account of loss.

 (c)          No. of card passes revalidated          :

              (issued for the second/subse-

              quent time)

 (d)         No. of blank Card Passes in               :

              stock.

*****