Punitive Transfers for Strike Participation: Brittas Seeks Withdrawal of Action Against Loco Pilots

Thiruvananthapuram: Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has urged Southern Railway to immediately repatriate twelve loco pilots transferred from the Palakkad Division following their participation in a strike. In a letter to Southern Railway General Manager R. N. Singh, Brittas said the continued delay in reversing the transfers amounts to retaliatory action and has caused serious hardship to the employees.

Referring to the agitation by the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), Brittas said most major penalty proceedings linked to the protest have already been withdrawn across Southern Railway divisions. He noted that this included the repatriation of transferred staff in divisions such as Thiruvananthapuram and Salem, a move that helped restore trust and improve employee morale.

However, Brittas pointed out that the Palakkad Division alone continues to delay the return of twelve mail loco pilots transferred during the agitation. He said the transfers, carried out on what were described as “administrative grounds,” have been kept in force indefinitely despite the availability of adequate vacancies in the division.

The MP noted that goods train loco pilots are reportedly being deployed to operate mail trains in Palakkad, indicating sufficient operational capacity to accommodate the return of the transferred staff. Despite this, even routine requests from the affected employees remain unprocessed.

Brittas warned that the prolonged delay has created a strong perception among staff that the transfers are being continued as punishment for their participation in the strike. Such an approach, he said, undermines confidence in fair administration and adversely affects morale in a safety-sensitive cadre like loco pilots.

Calling for urgent intervention, Brittas asked the General Manager to issue immediate instructions to the Palakkad Division to review the cases without delay and repatriate the twelve loco pilots to their previous stations. He said timely action is essential to restore trust and ensure the safety and efficiency of railway operations.