Letter of All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA)
The Indian Railway’s loco pilots across the country, under the banner of All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), have been continuously agitating for the implementation of maximum 9 hours of duty for all loco running staff as per the Hours of Work and Period of Rest Rules, 2005 (HOER), formulated by the Indian Railways and also as per the Railway Board’s letter RBE No.131/2005. This is a very important issue even from the point of view of the safety of the crores of working people who travel daily by Indian Railways.
Currently, loco pilots are being made to work for more than 9 hours as a result of huge vacancies among loco running staff. Instead of immediately recruiting the required number of loco running staff, the Indian Railways, which comes under the direct control of the Central Government, has been threatening railway workers who refuse to work beyond 9 hours with suspensions and enquiries.
We reproduce below a letter highlighting such high handed actions in Pune division of Indian Railways. It is necessary that all working people unitedly condemn all such anti-people actions by any agency of the Central and State governments.
(Translation of Hindi letter)
To,
Respected DRM Sir,
Respected ADRM Sir,
Respected Sr DPO Sir
Pune Division, Central Railway
Subject: Regarding illegal, inhumane behaviour of Sr.DME and ADME Sir with the running staff, forcing the organization to agitate.
Sir,
On behalf of the union (AILRSA), I would like to draw your attention to a very serious and worrying matter.
On 16.08.2025, ALP/DD Shri Rajendra Mahala was suspended at Out Station GPR. But even after four days have passed today, he has not been sent to the Headquarters. Not only this, without coming to the headquarters, his CMS ID was illegally transferred from GPR to DD and he was also given the message of “NOT TO BOOK.” This action is not only against the rules, but it is also a gross disregard of human values and administrative justice.
In addition, Sr.DME and ADME have created a wrong impression that the duty of running staff is 12 hours, although as per various circulars of the Railway Board and HOER rules, the duty of running staff has been fixed for a maximum of 54 hours in a week and not more than 9 hours at a time. Despite this, ignoring these rules, officers are subjecting the staff to unnecessary pressure and harassment.
Sir, this type of arbitrary and illegal action is having a negative impact on the morale of the employees, and a feeling of deep dissatisfaction and resentment has also spread among the staff. Today the situation has become such that more than 10 charge sheets and punishments have been given on this issue. All this clearly shows that the concerned officers are exploiting the running staff by arbitrarily interpreting the rules and regulations.
Respected Sir, such acts of Sr.DME and ADME are pushing the running staff towards a big agitation. The union wants to avoid such conflicts, but if pressure from the staff increases, AILRSA will be forced to launch an agitation, the entire responsibility of which will be of the administration. This situation will not only tarnish the image of Pune Division but will also adversely affect its functioning.
Therefore, you are humbly requested to immediately intervene and ensure proper resolution of such illegal and inhuman actions being taken by the Division Administration.
Thank you,
Yours,
Central Assistant General Secretary,
AILRSA, Pune Division