Railway Board circular on HRA when not accepting or surrender of Railway Residential
Accommodation
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
No. E(P&A)-II/2012/F.E.2/4.
The General Secretary,
NFIR,
3, Chelmsford Road,
New Delhi - 110 055.
New Delhi, dated 31/10/2016.
Sub.:
Admissibility of House Rent Allowance in the event of non-acceptance or
surrender of railway residential accommodation - reg.
Ref: 1. NFIR's letter No. 1/5(c )/Part I dated 22/02/2016.
2. NFIR’s letter No. 1/5(c )/Part I dated 25/04/2016.
I
am directed to refer to your letters quoted above. The subject item
(No. 40/2012) refers to admissibility of HRA in the event of
non-acceptance or surrender of Railway residential accommodation. While
this is governed by Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)-II/99/HRA-2
dated 16/03/2000; the Federation vide their letter No. 1/5(c) Pt. I
dated 09/04/2012 had asked for review of the clause mentioned in Board’s
letter ibid that HRA will not be admissible to railway employees for
whom railway accommodation is specifically earmarked or to those
employees, whose occupation of railway quarters is essential for easy
accessibility during emergencies and efficient discharge of their duties
etc. ("essential staff").
2. Subsequently, as recorded in the PNM
meeting held on 30-31 January, 2014, it was explained to the Federation
that wherever there is a house earmarked the employee cannot be allowed
HRA. Federation contended that administration cannot deny HRA when
earmarked quarters are not fit for occupation and wanted that a
clarification be issued in the matter.
3. The item was further
discussed by the Federation with the Board on 15/07/2015 and it was
recorded as "As decided in the earlier meeting, a clarification after
reviewing the matter is to be issued. Official Side stated that they
propose to issue instructions in consultation with Civil Engineering
Directorate. Federation stated that while they do not understand the
need for a consultation with the Civil Engineering in this case, they
requested the clarification be issued quickly. It was agreed to do so.
The item to be closed thereafter" .
4. Accordingly, the matter had
seen referred to Land & Amenities Dte. who confirmed that
instructions were in place (issued vide RB/L&A No. 009/2011 dated
19/09/2011 to all Zonal Railway, PUs etc.) regarding dismantling of
condemned/abandoned quarters, and that quarters declared condemned are
not made available for allotment.
5. In line with the assurance
recorded at para 3 above, letter No. E(P&A)- II/2012/F.E.2/4 dated
12/10/2015 was issued to all Zonal Railway and Production Units etc.
that before allotment of Railway quarters, it should be ensured that
such quarters are fit for occupation. Copy of this letter was also
endorsed to the Federation.
6. It is, therefore, submitted that
the letter dated 12/10/2015 referred to had already been issued by the
time minutes of the discussions on the item held with NFIR on 8th and
9th October, 2015 were finalized/received and this was also explained in
the meeting with NFIR in 18/01/2016. There has, therefore, been no
deliberate violation of the assurance given to the Federation.
7.
As, in terms of extant instructions, quarters unfit for occupation are
not to be allotted, the question of allowing HRA against such allotment
does not arise, in general. Any violation of the extant instructions can
be taken up with the concerned field formation for appropriate remedial
action.
Download Railway Board Circular No.E(P&A)-
II/2012/F.E.2/4 dated 31.10.2016