Lok Sabha Question No. 72 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Corruption in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 72 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## CORRUPTION IN RAILWAYS

- *72.    SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of illegal acts of violation of procedures, conduct rules,  acts  of  impropriety,  demanding  and  accepting  illegal gratification  and  accumulation  of  assets  disproportionate  to known sources of income, which came to the notice of the Government during the last three years and the current year, zone-wise;
- (b) the action taken by the Railways so far, in this regard;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  action  taken  so  far,  is  not  much effective to check the corruption in the Railways and if so, the reaction of the Railways thereto; and
- (d) the details of the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.72 BY SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.02.2018  REGARDING CORRUPTION IN RAILWAYS

(a)  &  (b)  As  a  result  of  preventive  checks,  decoy  checks  and investigations  of  complaints  involving  cases  of  irregularities, violation of procedures  and  other acts of impropriety  and misdemeanours,  the  officials  booked  in  corruption  cases  are taken up under the Railway Servants (Discipline & Appeal) Rules 1968, as applicable and those found guilty, are punished commensurate  with  the  gravity  of  misconduct(s).  Zone-wise details  of  officials  taken  up  under  D&AR  action  during  last  3 years are stated below:

| Zonal Railways     |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 |
|--------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Central            |    482 |    335 |    437 |
| Eastern            |    161 |    229 |    196 |
| East Central       |    410 |    416 |    392 |
| East Coast         |    205 |    106 |    150 |
| Northern           |   2248 |   2195 |   1678 |
| North Central      |    251 |    260 |    204 |
| North Eastern      |    551 |    402 |    449 |
| Northeast Frontier |    273 |    180 |    262 |
| North Western      |    501 |    149 |    102 |
| Southern           |    606 |    696 |    653 |
| South Central      |    244 |    207 |    254 |
| South Eastern      |    124 |    169 |    109 |
| South East Central |    113 |    132 |    139 |
| South Western      |      9 |    122 |    227 |
| Western            |    401 |    350 |    527 |
| West Central       |    137 |    122 |     79 |
| Total              |   6716 |   6070 |   5858 |

(c)  &  (d)  Railways  have  well  established  systems,  rules  and procedures which guide its various functions. The Railways also have  a  vigilance  organization,  spread  over  the  entire  railway system which conducts preventive, decoy and surprise checks. It  also  investigates  complaints  of  corruption  received.  If  any irregularity  is  detected,  suitable  disciplinary  action  is  taken, depending  upon  the  gravity  of  the  charges  and  in  consultation with the Central Vigilance Commission for cases involving Group 'A' officers.

Corrective measures for system improvement and increasing transparency are taken regularly. Some of the recent initiatives  include  e-tendering  of  Works  contract,  procurements through  e-tendering,  e-auctions,  changes  in  Tatkal  reservation processes,  registering  of  indents  through  Freight  Operations Information  System  (FOIS),  on  line  allotment  of  rakes  etc. Regular training and seminars are also organized to educate the officials and enhance their knowledge and awareness.

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