Station Masters - 6th ( VI ) Central Pay Commission Report

7.36.33     The Commission received thousands of individual memoranda from Station Masters seeking initial grade of Rs.6500-10500. It is observed that the category of Station Masters has inter-linkages with other categories. Fifteen percent of the posts of Station Masters are filled up through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) from Group C & D personnel upto 45 years of age and possessing a graduate degree from the operating department and the commercial department. Twenty five percent of the recruitment is made through general selection from Shunting Jamadars, Shunting Master, Cabinman Gr. I, Switchman, Senior Signalers and Senior TNC in scale of Rs.4000-6000 and Levermen Gr. I, Pointsmen Gr. I, Shuntman Gr. I, Cabinman Gr. II & TNC in scale of Rs.3050-4590. There is also lateral induction in Rs.5500-9000 with 25% of the posts being filled up by Traffic Apprentices including 50% from open market through Railway Recruitment Boards and 10% from serving (Non-Ministerial) graduates through LDCE. Giving a higher pay scale to this category will, therefore, upset the established relativities. No anomaly is also apparent in the existing pay structure for this category. The Commission is, therefore, unable to recommend a higher pay scale for this category. In any case, the posts of Assistant Station Master/Station Master in the scales of Rs.5000-8000 and Rs.5500-9000 will automatically be placed in the scale of Rs.6500-10500 on account of rationalization of pay scales being recommended by the Commission. The posts of Assistant Station Master and Station Master in the scales of Rs.5000-8000 and Rs.5500-9000 will, therefore, stand merged. Consequently, the post of Deputy Station Superintendent and Station Superintendent shall stand merged in the scale of Rs.7450-11500 corresponding to the revised pay band PB-2 of Rs.8700-34800 along with grade pay of Rs.4600.

7.36.36 Classification of Station Masters as ‘continuous’ i.e. placing them in an 8 hours roster is a purely administrative matter that should be decided by the Railways. Similar is the case relating to redesignation of the post. Ministry of Railways being the administrative Ministry will be in a better position to take a decision regarding redesignation and reclassification, if necessary, of the post. The Commission, consequently, makes no recommendation in this regard.