Railway Board Amends Voluntary Retirement Rules: Permission May Be Withheld in Pending Disciplinary or Judicial Cases

The Ministry of Railways has issued an important amendment to the provisions governing Voluntary Retirement (VRS) for railway employees under the Indian Railway Establishment Code. The revised rules empower the competent authority to withhold permission for voluntary retirement in specific cases involving disciplinary or judicial proceedings.

The amendment has been issued through Railway Board’s RBE No. 56/2026 dated 10 July 2026 and aligns the Railway rules with the provisions already adopted by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).

Why the Rules Have Been Amended

The Railway Board stated that the amendment has been made following revisions carried out by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) to Fundamental Rule 56(k), 56(m), and Rule 48 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

These changes were introduced after the judgment of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Principal Bench, in the case of Shri Gopal Singh Purohit vs Union of India & Others, which prompted the Government to harmonize voluntary retirement provisions across Central Government services.

Accordingly, the Railway Board has amended the corresponding provisions in the Indian Railway Establishment Code.

When Permission for Voluntary Retirement Can Be Refused

Under the amended rules, the Appropriate Authority may withhold permission to retire voluntarily if any of the following situations exist:

• The railway servant is under suspension.
• A charge sheet has already been issued and disciplinary proceedings are pending.
• Judicial proceedings involving charges that may amount to grave misconduct are pending.

Meaning of “Judicial Proceedings Pending”

The amendment also clarifies when judicial proceedings will be considered pending.

Judicial proceedings shall be deemed to be pending if:

• A complaint or police report has been filed; and
• The Magistrate has taken cognizance of the matter in criminal proceedings.

Rules Covered Under the Amendment

The revised provisions apply to the following retirement rules contained in Chapter 18 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code (IREC), Volume II:

• Rule 1802(b)(1)
• Rule 1803(b)(1)
• Rule 1804(b)

The same conditions have now been incorporated into all three rules governing voluntary retirement.

Effective Date

Although the Railway Board has issued the amendment in July 2026, it has clarified that the revised provisions will be effective retrospectively from 17 January 2014, matching the date on which the corresponding DoPT notification came into force.

The Board has also clarified that:

• Cases already decided under the earlier provisions will not be reopened.
• Only future or pending matters will be governed by the amended rules as applicable.

Amendment to the Indian Railway Establishment Code

To implement the revised policy, the President has directed amendment of Chapter 18 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code, Volume II (1987 Edition – Reprint Edition 2005) through Advance Correction Slip No. 65.

The correction slip formally replaces the relevant clauses under Rules 1802, 1803 and 1804 with the revised provisions.

Impact on Railway Employees

The amendment brings the Railway Board’s voluntary retirement provisions in line with the Central Government’s existing policy. Employees seeking voluntary retirement should note that submission of a VRS notice does not automatically guarantee acceptance if disciplinary or judicial proceedings are pending.

The revised rules ensure that employees facing serious disciplinary action or criminal proceedings cannot use voluntary retirement as a means to exit service before such matters are concluded.