RAILWAY POSTING SCAM: All railway posts are on sale for the right price, say insiders

New Delhi: Over the past few years, the railway ministry has tweaked conventions in the name of competence to open up senior appointments to far greater manipulation than ever in the past. Many of these appointments — such as members and chairman of the railway board — are on sale for the right price and through the right contacts, insiders in the ministry say.

This was revealed by the CBI following the arrest of Mahesh Kumar, member (staff) of the board who was trying to become member (electrical). Railway circles are abuzz about several other close relatives and at least one personal staff of Bansal being active in fixing appointments and contracts in the ministry.

With an annual budget of Rs 63,363 crore, the Railways awards numerous lucrative contracts and railway board members and chairman have very crucial roles in awarding all the big contracts. That further adds to the attractiveness of these posts, say senior officials.

By tweaking the appointment norms — now even general managers are being appointed directly as chairman of the board — political masters, especially the railway minister, are able to play favourites while ignoring many competent officers, say railway insiders.

The appointments to the railway board, the apex decision making body of the Indian Railways, have, raised a stink in recent times. They also point out that the widespread influence of political manipulation and money power has also resulted in general demoralisation among professionals. The most contested has been the post of the chairman, railway board. The present chairman, a former general manager, was appointed directly to the post though he was not a member of the board — an unusual, but legal, move. Usually, from the 16 GMs in the ‘open line’ for promotion, members of the board are appointed and the seniormost from among the members is usually appointed the chairman.

Over the past three-four years, especially under Mamata Banerjee, the rules were tweaked and traditions altered. So, Kumar, who was arrested by the CBI on Friday, was trying to become member (electrical, superseding several seniors. He only managed to become member staff in the first effort, but was in negotiation with Singla to become member electrical when the incumbent was hoping to become the next chairman of the board.

Sources say the post of member (engineering) was kept vacant for almost three months, which was extremely unusual because of the sensitivities of the post. But it fell in the pattern of recent murmurs about almost everything in Railways being on sale for the right price. A few days ago, a new member (engineering) has taken charge.

Those who do not find favour with the powers that be are sidelined, or their appointment scuttled with frivolous complaints. In the case of Rajeev Bhargava, general manager of Rail Wheel Factory, his appointment as GM (open line), which would have made him eligible to be a member of the Board, was stalled by the railway minister, despite the Cabinet Committee on Appointments and cabinet secretary repeatedly pointing out the frivolous nature of the complaint against him.
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