RBE No. 17 /2025 Operation of Revised Post Based Rosters in Direct Recruitment for SCs), STs, OBCs and EWS,

Railway & Railway Board's Circulars & Orders : RBE No. 17 /2025 Operation of Revised Post Based R...: RBE No. 17 /2025

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2024-E(SCT)I/49/ 20

New Delhi, dated- 06.03.2025

The General Managers (P):

All Indian Zonal Railways

& Production Units.

The Director General/RDSO/Lucknow

Sub: Operation of Revised Post Based Rosters in Direct Recruitment for Scheduled Castes(SCs), Scheduled Tribes(STs), Other Backward Classes(OBCs) and Economically Weaker Sections(EWS), on introduction of 10% reservation for EWSs in Jobs.

Ref: (i) Board’s letter No. 95-E(SCT)I/49/5(Pt.1) dated-21.08.97(RB No 113/97) & 21.03.2001.

(ii) DOP&T’s OM. No. 36039/1/2019-Estt.(Res.) dated 19.01.2019 and 31.01.2019

(iii) Board’s letter No. E(NG)II/2019/Misc./2 dated 05.02.2019(RBE No. 19/2019).

(iv)Boards letter No. 2019-E(SCT)/25/1 dated 07.02.2019(RBE No. 21/2019)&10.12.2019 (RBE No. 209/2019).

(v) Supreme Court’s order dated 27.11.24 in SLP(Civil) No. 10017/2022 in the matter of AISC/STREA versus UOI & others.

Please refer to Board’s circular No. 95-E(SCT)1/49/5(Pt.1) dated-21.08.97 vide which detailed guidelines regarding construction/operation and maintenance of Post Based Reservation Rosters for recruitment category, along with Model Rosters for cadre strength of 15 posts and above as Annexure-II and Model Roster for cadre strength upto 14 posts as Annexure-III, were issued.

2. DOP&T vide its OM. No. 36039/1/2019-Estt.(Res.) dated 19.01.2019 issued instructions for introduction of 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections(EWSs) in Civil posts and services in the Govt. of India. The said O.M. of DOP&T was circulated by E(NG) directorate to all the Zonal Railways/PUs vide letter no. E(C(NG)II/2019/Misc/2 dated 05.02.2019 (RBE No. 19/2019) for information and guidance.

2.1. Subsequently, in continuation of above O.M.(19.01.2019), DOP&T vide its O.M. No. 36039/1/2019-Estt(Res.) dated 31.01.2019 issued detailed guideline/instructions regarding providing 10% reservation in Direct Recruitment in civil posts & services to the eligible persons belonging to EWS, who are not covered under the scheme of reservation for SC/ST/OBC, which were circulated to the Railways/PUs along with DOP&T prescribed model Roster vide Board’s letter No. 2019-E(SCT)/25/1 dated 07.02.2019, advising as under: ,

“…new reservation roster for direct recruitment for Schedule Castes(SCs), Scheduled Tribes(STs), Other Backward Classes(OBCs) and Economically Weaker Sections(EWSs) in Railway services be adopted as prescribed in the Department of Personnel and Trainings (DOP&Ts) O.M No. 36039/1/2019-Estt.(Res) dated 31.1.2019 from 1.2..2019, the date of implementation for reservation of EWSs category”.

3. Railways/PUs etc. are aware of the fact that the model Reservation Roster issued vide Board’s circular No. 95-E(SCT)I/49/5(Pt.1) dated-21.08.97(RB No 113/97) under reference (i) are at variance with the model Rosters as prescribed by DOP&T’s base O.M. No. 36012/2/96-Estt.(Res.) dated 2.7.1997 vide which detailed guidelines of Post based Reservation rosters were issued due to which the Model Rosters issued and adopted by Railway Board both for 200 point Roster and L-Shaped(small cadre roster upto 14 posts) were challenged in various courts.

4. The Hon’ble High Court of judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur in DB Civil WP No. 9657/2014 in the matter of UOI and Ors. Vs. Ram Sukh Chaudhury and Ors.(and in connected case- 733/2015) wherein the order of CAT/JU was challenged has passed the following order dated 9.5.2017 upholding the order of CAT/JU:

“ No reason has been assigned in the order of the Railway Board for departing from the roster prescribed by the DOP&T and no reason has been given to provide roster upto 14 posts instead of 13 posts. Therefore, it is clear from the memorandum issued by the Railway Board that Railway Board has not adopted the roster which is at material variance from the roster issued by the DOP&T. The submission of the petitioner is factually wrong.”

4.1. Against the above order of HC/Jodhpur, All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association(AISCSTREA) filed the SLP(Civil) No. 10017/2022. The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated-27.11.2024 in the above SLP10017/2022 in the matter of AISCSTREA Versus UOI & others passed the following order:

“…In view of the aforesaid statement , the impugned judgment is set aside and it is directed that the roster point table , adopted and applicable as per the Indian Railway Establishment manual, will apply. The roster point table issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Union of India, would not be applicable in the present Situation. The appeal is allowed and disposed of in the above terms, pending application(s), if any shall stand disposed of.”

5. In pursuant to the above order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the matter has been reviewed in Board’s office. Accordingly, in partial modification of Board’s circular No. 2019-E(SCT)/25/1 dated 07.02.2019 (RBE No. 21/2019) and No. 95-E(SCT)I/49/5(Pt.1) dated-21.08.97(/RB No 113/97)&21.03.2001(RBE No. 59/2001), the model Post Based Roster for Recruitment category i.e. Annexure-II(200 points Rosters)&III(L-shaped 14 point Roster) is restored with interpolation of points earmarked for EWS category along with the SCs, STs & OBCs categories for effecting 10% reservation for EWSs, in direct recruitment, in terms of the guidelines contained in DOP&T’s OM. No. 36039/1/2019-Estt.(Res.) dated 19.01.2019 & 31.01.2019.

5.1 Accordingly, Revised Model Reservation Rosters i.e. Annexure-II and Annexure-III of Circular No.

95-E(SCT)I/49/5(Pt.1) dated-21.08.97.RB No 113/97) & 21.03.2001(Corrigendum), are enclosed herewith for implementation and compliance. The rest of the content/instructions and guidelines contained in above mentioned Board’s Circulars and DOP&T’s O.M’s would remain unchanged.

6. This will be effective from the date of issue of this circular i.e. prospectively and past cases of recruitment, if any need not to be disturbed.

This has the approval of the Competent Authority.

DA: As above G3

(Goutom Mondal)

Joint Director, Estt.(Res.)

Mail Id:goutom.mondal[at]gov.in

Tele No. 011-23047138

Original Order - Click Here