Railway Transfer Policy: There is welcome news for railway employees. Those currently working far from their homes, hometowns, or home states can now work closer to home. They may be transferred to a location near their residence or to a place where they have long wished to be posted. Indeed, the Railway Board has made significant changes to the ‘on-request transfer policy’ for railway employees. The Board has issued necessary guidelines regarding this to the General Managers (GMs) of all zones. Under the new system, a priority list of eligible employees will be published monthly on the HRMS portal. A veteran railway employee with 23 years of service in the East Central Railway noted that thousands of employees across the country serve far from home—often for 20–22 years or more—waiting in vain for a transfer to their home division, only to eventually retire without ever getting one. As employees age, they often need postings closer to home so they can spend time with their families when needed. The objective of this policy change is to provide relief to such employees.
Which railway employees will get their desired transfer?
The Railway Board has modified the on-request transfer policy for employees who have completed 20 years or more of service and have been working in remote areas for years. In other words, a decision has been made to prioritize the transfer of non-gazetted railway employees who have completed at least 20 years of service. According to a railway official, the new system aims to provide relief to employees who have long awaited a transfer to their home division or closer to their families. Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Director at the Railway Board, has issued guidelines to the GMs of all zones regarding this matter.
Transfer list to be published on the HRMS portal! Under the new system, a separate priority list of employees with over 20 years of service will be published monthly on the HRMS (Human Resource Management System) portal. Railway employees with the longest tenure will be given the first opportunity for a transfer. Another key feature of the new system is that once a transfer is accepted, no NOC (No Objection Certificate) will be required; the transfer order will be issued automatically through the HRMS.
Relieving within 15 days of transfer order issuance
Regarding the policy changes, it is stipulated that the concerned railway employee must be relieved (released from duty) within 15 days of the transfer order being issued. Even in exceptional circumstances, an employee cannot be retained for more than one month, and such retention requires the approval of the concerned DRM (Divisional Railway Manager). Railway employee unions have welcomed this decision by the Board. It has been stated that the notification regarding the transfer policy changes will come into effect on the HRMS portal two months after its issuance.
