Review of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation payment paid to the families of Railway employees

Review of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation payment paid to the families of Railway employees deceased due to accidents while performing duty

भारत सरकार GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
रेल मंत्रालय MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(रेलवे बोर्ड) (RAILWAY BOARD)

No. 2024/E(W)/15/3

New Delhi, dated 26.12.2024

The General Managers (P)
All Indian Railways & Production Units
(Except ECR, SR, SECR, SWR, NWR, NFR, ICF and MCF)

Sub: Review of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation payment-reg.

Ref: Board’s letter No. 2024/E(W)/PQ/RS/3 dated 04.12.2024.

In reference to a Parliament Question, information on Ex-gratia compensation paid to the families of Railway employees deceased due to accidents while performing duty, was called for recently vide Board’s letter cited under Ref. From the data received from Railways/PUs (Annexure-I), it is seen that figures furnished by most of the Railways/PUs are at variance with the extant policy guidelines. It indicates that either the data is erroneous or the extant policy is not being followed scrupulously. As few more Questions regarding Ex-gratia were also received during the current Session, the matter calls for attention. It is worth noting that submission of erroneous data to the Parliament may lead to Privilege issues in the Parliament.

2. In this context, a brief of extant instructions regarding payment of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation admissible to the families of the Railway servants who die while performing bonafide official duties under various circumstances is enclosed as Annexure-II.

3. All Railways/PUs may review and settle the cases where Ex-gratia payment has not been made in compliance with extant guidelines. After completing the exercise in 1 month’s time, data in respect of Ex-gratia compensation paid for last 3 years in the format at Annexure-III may be furnished by 31.01.2025 to E-mail IDs “v.somdas[at]gov.in” and “sw.sharma[atgov.in”.

Encl: As stated.

(Renulot Sharma)
Principal Executive Director (IR)
Railway Board
Phone No.: 011-23047172
E-mail: renu.sharma0110[at]gov.in

Annexure-I

Data Furnished by Railways/PUs w.r.t Parliament Question No.1388 on 06.12.2024

{See PDF}

Annexure-II

Brief of extant instructions governing Ex-gratia lump-sum Compensation Instructions governing Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation as contained in Department of Pension & Pensioner’s O.M. No. 45/55/97-P&PW(C) dated 11.09.1998 circulated vide Board’s letter dated 05.11.1999 was amended from time to time and stand uploaded on IR’s Website. Some of the important guidelines are brought out below:-

(i)

(a) The amount of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation w.e.f. 01.01.2016, admissible as per guidelines contained in Board’s letter dated 25.11.2016 is ₹25 Lakhs for death due to accidents, acts of violence by terrorists, anti-social elements, etc; ₹35 Lakhs for death occurring in border skirmishes, action against militants, etc., while performing duty in specified altitude, natural disasters, etc; and ₹40 Lakhs for death during enemy action in war, etc. (Accordingly, in case of death of 2 Railway employees due to accidents in the course of performance of duties, the Ex-gratia compensation paid shall be 2 x *25= ₹50 Lakhs.)

(b) The amount of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation admissible for the period from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2015 as per guidelines contained in Board’s letter dated 30.09.2008 is 10 Lakhs for death due to accidents, acts of violence by terrorists, anti-social elements, etc; ₹15 Lakhs for death occurring during enemy action in international war or border skirmishes, while performing duty in specified altitude, natural disasters, etc.

(c) The amount of Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation admissible for the period from 01.08.1997 to 31.12.2005 as per guidelines contained in Board’s letter dated 05.11.1999 is 5 Lakhs for death due to accidents, acts of violence by terrorists, anti-social elements, etc; ₹7.5 Lakhs for death occurring during enemy action in international war or border skirmishes, etc.

(ii) As per instructions contained in Board’s letter dated 10.01.2011, the compensation payable under WCA, etc. should not be deducted/reduced from the lump-sum amount admissible as Ex-gratia compensation w.e.f. 01.08.1997.

(iii) Ceiling on aggregate amount of relief received from all Government sources i.e. Ex-gratia Compensation, Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Chief Minister’s Relief Fund etc. in each individual case, is as under:-

Note: For more clarity, detailed instructions pertaining to Ex-gratia compensation, issued by Railway Board and uploaded on IR’s website may be referred to.

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