Appointments to the posts of Members of Railway Board, Financial Commissioner (Railways) and Chairman, Railway Board are governed by Tenure Linked Norms approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and notified by the Government on 16.2.1987, with amendments on 5.4.2006, 4.6.2007 and 7.8.2007.
As per the tenure linked norms, an officer is eligible for appointment as a Member of the Railway Board if he fulfills the twin conditions of having worked as General Manager of an Open Line Railway, i.e. General Manager (Open Line), for a period of one year and has a balance tenure of two years of service on the date of occurrence of the vacancy. The officer should also be clear from vigilance angle. In case an officer who fulfills these twin norms is not available, the senior-most General Manager (Open Line) having a minimum of one year balance tenure of service from the date of occurrence of the vacancy with a clear vigilance record, is considered for appointment for the post of Member of the Railway Board.
In respect of discipline specific posts of Members of the Railway Board, i.e. Member Engineering, Member Mechanical, Member Electrical and Member Traffic, the selection of candidates is from officers belonging to the corresponding disciplines, viz. Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical/Signalling & Telecommunication and Traffic respectively, who fulfill the aforesaid norms.
In respect of the post of Member Staff, officers of all disciplines (excluding Medical and RPF) are eligible and the senior-most eligible officer who fulfill the above mentioned tenure linked norms is considered for appointment.
The post of Member Staff had fallen vacant upon superannuation of Shri A K Vohra, Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), on 30.4.2013. Shri Mahesh Kumar, Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE), was the senior-most eligible officer fulfilling the tenure linked norms as also his career performance record fully meeting the necessary performance criteria with the availability of mandatory CVC clearance, for appointment against this post. He was accordingly considered and appointed as Member Staff, Railway Board, on 1.5.2013. No officer senior to Shri Mahesh Kumar fulfilling the norms governing appointment to the post of Member Staff has been superseded.
Adverting to the reports by a section of the Media regarding further aspirational postings said to be desired by Shri Mahesh Kumar, it is stated that no relevant Board level post is vacant at present.
