Train drivers denied time for food, ref, natural call
dear sir
Indian railway train drivers are denied time break for food / refreshment / natural call. there is no provision in the rules. The Railways Act 1989 Chapter XIV have no provisions for time allowed for taking food/refreshment/natural
Call to Loco Running Staff as "Continuous" employees.
I am central working president of Indian Railway Loco Runningmen
Organisation(IRLRO) that is registered Non-political Trade Union of train drivers.
The Train drivers duty hours rules have no upper limit. All train (Goods and Passenger) drivers have to drive train upto designated station without any time break allowed for Tea/coffee, Meals and natural call etc. Round the clock. No rules / no provisions on this
subject and issue.
IRLRO would request for an advice on how to raise this issue before The NHRC, and can we get the reference of rules governing Time allowed for Breakfast/lunch/Dinner to employees in civil work domain.
In 1973 we had gone for railway drivers strike, and got written agreement of 10 hours duty with Mr. KV Raghunathreddy - Minister of Labour , this agreement was welcomed by the parliament on 14-08-1973. This agreement is still to the see the day of the light.
ILO have told us to represent to Govt of India, Min. of Labour.
We have won some cases with Chief Labour Commisioner on Hours of Employment and got orders in our favor, but Ministry of Labour have virtually no authority to order Min. of Railway to obey its directives, because two ministries are independent.
There is no independent Safety organisation, over Indian Rail Transport. The Commissioner of Rail Safety is only an investigator and adviser on rail safety. CRS can not order Indian Railways on any issue including safety issues.
There is no Rail Transport regulator where we can approach for redressal.
NHRC says it is a service matter.
Railway Board is like an organisation where it acts as Rule Maker, Rule Breaker , Police and Judge all bundled into one.
We have been trying hard, but due to exorbitant powers, like Business Head Chairman Railway Board is also The Secretary Govt. of India, empowered with powers to issue Gazette notification. CRB literally becomes the part of government, and all our efforts including judicial orders / parliamentary / Labour Min. / Protests / Hunger fasts are going for a toss, and we are feeling help less.
Now only few intelligent lawyers can help us.
1. A copy of the Reply submitted by Min. of Railways is attached here with in pdf format.
We need advice and help both.
We have very limited financial resources because we are already fighting 04 cases at different levels from personnel collections by few leaders.
Regards
Sanjay Kumar Pandhi
Central Working President
IRLRO
Contact : irlrowp@gmail.com, Mobile - 09717632196
