Table of Contents

Joining Time for Railway Employees: Consolidated Circular (Master Circular No. 6)

This Article provides a consolidated set of instructions regarding the grant of joining time for Railway employees. These instructions, issued over time by the Railway Board, are summarized here for the guidance of concerned personnel.

1. Purpose of Joining Time

Joining time is granted to a Railway servant who is transferred in public interest to enable them to join a new post, whether at the same station or at a new station. The guidelines cover all aspects of joining time, including its calculation, extension, and conditions for different categories of transfers.

2. General Provisions

Eligibility: Joining time is granted to Railway servants transferred in public interest. It is not applicable for temporary transfers or when transferred at the employee’s own request.
- Temporary Transfer: Only actual transit time is allowed, similar to journey on tour.
- Transfer at Own Request: No joining time is admissible.
Start of Joining Time:
- Joining time begins the day after the employee relinquishes charge of the old post, unless the charge is handed over in the afternoon, in which case it starts the following day.

रेलवे कर्मचारियों के लिए जॉइनिंग टाइम: संकलित सर्कुलर (MC No. 6)

3. Quantum of Joining Time

Same Station Transfer:
- If the transfer does not involve a change of residence, only 1 day of joining time is allowed.
- The “same station” refers to areas within the same municipality or corporation, including contiguous suburban municipalities and Cantonment areas.
Transfer Involving Change of Station:
- 1000 km or less: 10 days of joining time.
- More than 1000 km but less than 2000 km: 12 days of joining time.
- More than 2000 km: 15 days of joining time (12 days if traveling by air).
Note: If holidays follow the joining time, the period is automatically extended to cover them.

4. Combination of Joining Time with Leave

Joining time can be combined with regular leave or vacation, excluding casual leave.

5. Extension of Joining Time

Up to 30 Days: Head of Department or Divisional Railway Manager can extend joining time for non-gazetted Railway servants.
Beyond 30 Days: Requests must be referred to the Ministry of Railways.
The total preparation time should approximately equal 8 days plus reasonable transit time, including holidays.

6. Credit for Unutilized Joining Time

If joining time is not fully utilized, the unused days (up to a maximum of 15) will be credited as Leave on Average Pay (LAP), subject to accumulation limits.

Special Casual Leave: Not applicable in lieu of joining time.

7. Pay and Allowances During Joining Time

Railway employees will receive their joining time pay and allowances based on their pre-transfer pay. However, conveyance or permanent traveling allowances will not be provided.

8. Special Provisions

Discharge and Reappointment: Railway servants discharged from one office due to reduction in establishment and posted to another office are entitled to joining time, provided the appointment orders are received before discharge.
Competitive Examinations or Interviews: Railway servants appointed from the results of competitive exams or interviews are eligible for joining time.
Revised Transfer Orders: If the transfer order is revised after the employee has started their transit, the period already availed of will be accounted for, and a fresh spell of joining time will be granted based on the new orders.
Transfers at Employee’s Own Request: Railway servants transferred at their own request can be granted regular leave by the competent authority to cover the period between handing over charge at the old station and reporting at the new station.

9. Special Cases

Central Government/Defence Services Transfers: Employees joining from Central Government or Defence services will follow the rules of the respective organization regarding joining time.
Territorial Army Officers: Officers and personnel of the Railway Engineer units of the Territorial Army, when called for military duty, are eligible for joining time on disembodiment as per Railway rules.

10. Additional Guidelines

This consolidated circular is a summary of previous letters issued by the Railway Board. In case of doubt, the original letters referenced should be referred to as the authoritative source.
Prospective Effect: The instructions in this circular are applicable from the date of issue, unless otherwise specified. For old cases, the relevant rules from the time of occurrence should be applied.

11. List of Circulars Referenced

This consolidated circular incorporates the following letters:

E(ML)70 ML/3/39(i) dated 22.3.71
E(G)79 JT 1-1 dated 21.2.80
E(G)79 JT 1-1 dated 3.7.82
E(G)79 JT 1-1 dated 7.2.83
E(G)79 JT 1-1 dated 14.3.83
E(G)83 JT 1-1 dated 26.11.83
E(G)83 JT 1-1 dated 29.5.89 (RBE 127/89)

For full details, refer to the original letters and consult the relevant departmental authorities.