IR has formed a five -member high power committee to look into the concerns raised by candidates over the results of first stage Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards as per Centralized Employment Notification CEN 01/2019 of Non Technical Popular categories (NTPC) on January 14 and 15,2022.
The Committee will examine the following issues raised by candidates and give recommendations. The issues are:-
1. Results of 1st Stage CBT of CEN 01/2019 (NTPC) and methodology used for shortlisting candidates for 2nd Stage CBT without affecting existing shortlisted candidates
2. Introduction of 2nd Stage CBT in CEN RRC 01/2019.
Candidates have to send their concerns and suggestions to the committee at rrbcommittee@railnet.gov.in. Candidates have to make their submissions to the committee by February 16,2022. In turn, the committee have to submit their recommendations by March 4,2022.
Hence, the 2nd Stage CBT of CEN 01/2019 (NTPC) beginning from February 15,2022 and the 1st Stage CBT of CEN RRC 01/2019 beginning from February 23, 2022 has been postponed ,IR said in a statement.
All Chairpersons of RRBs have been directed to receive the grievances of candidates through their existing channels, compile them and forward it to the committee. The committee includes Deepak Peter and Rajiv Gandhi from Railway Board, Aditya Kumar from Western Railway, Jagdish Alagar from RRB Chennai and Mukesh Gupta from RRB Bhopal.
Need for a committee
It all started on January 24,2022 at Rajendra Nagar terminal of Patna under East Central Railway (ECR) when railway job aspirants with concerns over the selection procedure protested, affecting train operations. According to ECR,the situation was brought under control and train services resumed.
However,on January 25,2022, ECR, in three different bulletins, stated that protests happened at Buxar, Ara, Bihiya, Nawadah and Fatuha under its Danapur division disrupting rail services.
ECR Clarification
ECR issued a clarification on January 25,2022 as follows:
Attention of the Railways has been drawn to the concerns raised by some candidates over the process of shortlisting of candidates for the second stage of the ongoing recruitment examination under RRBs Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 01/2019 (for Non-Technical Popular Categories – Graduate and Under-graduate) – results of which were announced on 14.01.2022.
In this connection it is reiterated that the procedure for shortlisting of candidates for the second stage computer based test (CBT) had already been given elaborately under Para 13 of the original notification i.e., CEN 01/2019 published on 28.02.2019.
In this employment notification thirteen categories were advertised which were open to graduates and six of these for under-graduates. These thirteen categories were segregated into five groups based on 7th CPC pay-scale levels (viz., Levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) and the stage-wise procedure of recruitment for each category has already been indicated clearly in para 13.6 of the CEN.
Every candidate was free to opt for all or any of these thirteen categories subject to conditions of eligibility.While the first stage CBT was a common examination for all the candidates, Para 13.2 of the notification clearly states that in the 2nd stage CBT there would be a separate examination for each group (viz., Levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) with differing graded levels of difficulty.
Accordingly, all posts falling within the same level shall have a common 2nd stage CBT. Therefore, if a candidate is eligible and has opted for more than one level (as per educational qualification), he/she will have to appear in the corresponding 2nd stage CBT for each level as given in Para 13.6 since the standard (difficulty level) for each group of posts will be different (i.e., of graduate or under-graduate level).
It is also brought to the attention of Candidates that as per provisions the number of Candidates to be called for NTPC Second Stage Exam is only 10 times the number of approved vacancies. This number of calling 10 times of the number of vacancies was increased to 20 times the number of vacancies in CEN 1/2019 to protect the interest of the candidates, when shortlisting is done across levels, and ensuring meritorious candidates are not denied an opportunity.
Hence, to cover a reasonable number of candidates for the 2nd stage CBT, the number of candidates to be shortlisted has been kept at twenty times the community-wise vacancies of posts notified based on their merit in the 1st stage CBT cum preference of posts.
In addition, while an eligible candidate will have to appear for each separate corresponding 2nd stage CBT as per his/her eligibility and option, he/she will be selected and final appointment will be against one post only. Hence the question of depriving any deserving candidate from selection does not arise.
Note of caution from Railway Ministry
Meanwhile,, Railway Ministry on January 25, 2022, in a public notice, cautioned job aspirants not to indulge in unlawful activities.
The notice said “It has come to notice that aspirants of Railway job have indulged in vandalism/ unlawful activities like protesting on Railway Tracks, disruption of Train Operations, damaging Railway Properties etc.”
“Such misguided activities are highest level of indiscipline rendering such aspirants unsuitable for Railway/Government job. Videos of such activities will be examined with the help of specialized agencies and candidates/aspirants found indulged in unlawful activities will be liable for police action as well as lifetime debarment from obtaining Railway job,” the notice added.
The notice further said that RRBs were committed to conduct fair and transparent recruitment process maintaining highest standards of integrity. It also advised candidates not to be misguided or influenced by elements trying to use the candidates for fulfilling their own selfish ends.
