Dear,

It may be recalled that on the 11th July 2006, Mumbai suburban rail was hit by terrorist attacks as a result of which about 200 persons lost their lives and hundreds other were injured. The Railways in addition to the payment of compensation as admissible under the rules in cases of accidents etc decided to provide employment to the wards/legal heirs of the victims in group ‘D’ (peon and similar posts) category only, on humanitarian grounds and as a special case.

Out of 124 persons who submitted their application for appointment under the above arrangement, 37 applicants have graduate and post graduates degrees. It is felt that giving only group ‘D’ employment to such highly qualified persons would not only be unreasonable but also humiliating. Attention in this connection is invited to two questions on this subject asked by me in the monsoon session of Rajya Sabha- SQ. No. 2 dated 10/8/07 and UQ No. 2741 dated 7/9/07, copies enclosed.

In view of the stand of Railways that only group ‘D’ appointments would be given even to those having graduate and post graduate degrees, I would request you to re-consider the matter so that at least group ‘C’ (clerical) appointments can be given to such applicants.

I have no doubt in my mind that this proposal is reasonable and deserves sympathetic consideration, particularly in view of the fact that these persons are victims of terrorism.

Very truly yours,
Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Shri. Lalu Prasad Yadav
Minister of Railways
Government of India
New Delhi