🚉 Action Against Railway Employees Who Furnish False Information in Attestation Form – Railway Board RBE No. 106/2025
Introduction
The Railway Board has recently issued RBE No. 106/2025, dated 17 October 2025, addressing a crucial matter regarding employees who secure Railway jobs by furnishing false information or suppressing facts in their Attestation Form. This circular provides a case study and clear guidance to all Zonal Railways and Production Units on the correct course of action in such cases.
Background of the Case
The Railway Board came across a case where a person, after being appointed in Railway service, was later found to have previously worked in another Zonal Railway. The individual had been dismissed from that earlier service, and a criminal case related to his prior employment was also pending. However, while filling out the Attestation Form for the new job, he did not disclose these facts.
To make matters worse, the person was convicted in the criminal case during the appointment process, but he also suppressed that information from the authorities.
Disciplinary Action Initiated
Once these facts came to light, the concerned Zonal Railway issued a show cause notice under Rule 14(i) of the Railway Servants (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1968 (D&A Rules), proposing dismissal from service.
However, later, the Railway Administration withdrew that notice and issued a charge sheet under Rule 9 for major penalty, charging him with:
- Suppressing his previous dismissal from service.
- Suppressing the fact of conviction in a criminal case.
After a detailed disciplinary proceeding, the penalty of removal from service was imposed. The Appellate Authority confirmed this penalty.
Railway Board’s Review and Observation
The case was subsequently referred to the Railway Board for a review under Rule 25-A of the D&A Rules, after the Revisionary Authority had replaced the removal penalty with a lesser one that allowed reinstatement.
Upon examining the case, the Railway Board held that the situation did not qualify for a review under Rule 25-A. More importantly, the Board made a critical observation:
The individual’s appointment itself was void ab initio because he had been previously dismissed from service — a condition that disqualifies a person from future Government or Railway employment.
Therefore, the Board clarified that such a person should not be treated as a Railway Servant under the D&A Rules. Consequently, actions under Rule 14(i) or Rule 9 were not applicable in this case.
Correct Procedure to Handle Such Cases
The Railway Board emphasized that when false information or suppression of facts is discovered, the appointment must be terminated outright, rather than initiating disciplinary proceedings meant for genuine employees.
The Attestation Form itself contains a warning clause stating that:
Furnishing false information or suppressing factual details will render a candidate unfit for Government service and liable for termination at any time, even after appointment.
Thus, in such cases, the appointment should be cancelled or terminated based on this clause, without invoking disciplinary rules.
Guidance for All Zonal Railways
The Railway Board has instructed all Zonal Railways to carefully follow this guidance for future cases. This ensures that individuals who enter Railway service by fraudulent means do not receive the protection or privileges of legitimate Railway employees.
This case serves as an important reminder of the integrity required in government recruitment and the strict consequences of dishonesty in employment documentation.
Key Takeaways
- Suppression or false information in the Attestation Form makes an appointment void from the beginning (void ab initio).
- Such persons cannot claim the rights of a Railway Servant under D&A Rules.
- The correct action is termination/cancellation of appointment, not disciplinary proceedings.
- Zonal Railways must refer to the warning clause in the Attestation Form for guidance.