Indian Railways to recruit over 5,000 ex-servicemen as Pointsmen on contract basis

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Indian Railways will recruit more than 5,000 ex-servicemen as Pointsmen on a contract basis to quickly fill vacancies, as part of a new cooperation framework with the Indian Army aimed at supporting retired soldiers and Agniveers, Ministry of Railways said on Thursday.

The move comes under a newly introduced ‘Framework of Cooperation’ between the Railways and the Army to expand post-retirement job opportunities for Agniveers and serving Army personnel transitioning to civilian life.

The initiative is designed to ensure a smoother shift from military service to civilian careers while creating a dedicated support system for retiring personnel.

Under the plan, the Ministry of Railways has decided to hire ex-servicemen as Pointsmen across various zones on a contractual basis until regular recruitment processes are completed.

More than 5,000 Level-1 posts are currently being processed at the Zonal and Divisional levels. So far, nine Railway Divisions have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with concerned Army organisations to facilitate the hiring process.

Army recruiting units have also been asked to actively coordinate with Railway Divisions to speed up appointments.

The broader framework highlights a shared commitment to providing meaningful second-career opportunities to veterans while contributing to national development goals.

Welfare and resettlement of retired armed forces personnel already form an important part of Railway policy, the ministry said.

To support this, Indian Railways has provisioned 10 per cent horizontal reservation in Level-2 and above posts and 20 per cent in Level-1 posts for ex-servicemen.

In addition, 5 per cent reservation in Level-2 and above posts and 10 per cent in Level-1 posts have been earmarked for ex-Agniveers.

In 2024 and 2025, a total of 14,788 posts were reserved for ex-servicemen in Railway vacancy notifications.

This included 6,485 posts in Level-1 and 8,303 posts in Level-2 and above categories, as per the ministry.

Recruitment to Level-1 posts, earlier known as Group D, is conducted through Railway Recruitment Centres, while Level-2 and above posts are filled through Railway Recruitment Boards via competitive examinations.

–IANS

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Assam: Drugs worth Rs 9.5 crore seized, three held

Guwahati, May 7 (IANS) Assam Police seized drugs worth Rs 9.5 crore and arrested three drug peddlers, including a woman, in two separate operations, officials said on Wednesday.

An Assam Police spokesman said that based on credible intelligence regarding the transportation of contraband from Silchar (southern Assam) to Guwahati via the Silchar–Coimbatore Express train, a team from Panbazar Police station was deployed at Guwahati railway station on Wednesday. A female suspect was identified and apprehended upon the train’s arrival, he said.

Following due legal procedures and in the presence of independent witnesses, the search led to the recovery of 20,000 highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, valued at Rs 5 crore, one mobile handset and Rs 1,000 in cash. The accused, identified as Parvina Khatun Bibi (31), has been taken into custody. The detainee is a resident of Sadialer Khuti village in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district.

In another operation, the Assam Police on Tuesday night arrested two drug peddlers at Salchapra in Silchar in the state’s Cachar district, and seized 847 grams of heroin and 4.035 kg of opium from them. The total estimated value of the drugs is Rs 4.5 crore.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appreciated the police for the seizure of the drugs.

According to the police spokesman, legal actions were undertaken under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.

Police suspect that the drugs smuggled from Myanmar through Mizoram entered Assam through a clandestine route.

Myanmar, which shares a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram — serves as a key transit point for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India. Myanmar’s Chin State is a hub for smuggling of varied drugs, exotic wildlife animals and many other contraband through six Mizoram districts — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual and Serchhip.

–IANS

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Termination of arbitration for default not an ‘award’: Delhi HC

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has ruled that an order closing arbitral proceedings due to a claimant’s default “does not and cannot amount to an award,” since it does not determine the rights or obligations of the parties.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh observed while allowing petitions filed by Mecwel Constructions Pvt. Ltd. against GE Power Systems India Pvt. Ltd., seeking continuation of arbitration proceedings that had been terminated for non-filing of claims and non-payment of arbitral fees.

The dispute arose from subcontracting agreements for the erection, testing, and commissioning of turbine and generator auxiliaries at multiple thermal power projects.

GE Power had terminated Mecwel’s contracts in 2022 and 2023, following which the matter was referred to arbitration pursuant to a prior Delhi High Court order. However, the arbitrator had closed the proceedings under Section 25(a) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act after Mecwel failed to submit its statement of claims and pay its share of fees.

Although the arbitrator left a “window of opportunity” for compliance, the proceedings were later deemed terminated. GE Power argued that the termination order amounted to an arbitral award, which could be challenged only under Section 34 of the Act.

Rejecting that contention, Justice Singh observed: “An order closing the proceedings for default does not and cannot amount to an award as it does not deal with the rights of the parties before the Arbitrator. Such an order merely terminates the arbitral proceedings on account of the claimant’s default in filing the statement of claim and does not involve any adjudication or determination of the rights or obligations of the parties.”

The Delhi High Court added that for an order to qualify as an award, it must adjudicate an issue forming part of the substantive dispute between the parties — either finally or on an interim basis.

It said, “An order under Section 25(a), being procedural in nature and not addressing the substantive lis between the parties, lacks the essential attributes of an arbitral award.” While allowing the petitions, the Justice directed that arbitration proceedings between Mecwel and GE Power “shall continue before the Arbitrator appointed by this Court vide order dated 08.01.2024.”

–IANS

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No differences between us, we will work jointly for 2028 Assembly polls: K’taka CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM Shivakumar declare unity

Bengaluru, Nov 29 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Saturday that “our unity will continue. We are together. There are no differences between us.” The two leaders also announced that “we will work jointly for the 2028 Assembly polls.”

They made the statement at a joint press conference held at the CM’s official residence, Cauvery, in Bengaluru, following their breakfast meeting earlier in the day.

Addressing the media, CM Siddaramaiah said, “We go together. There is no difference.”

“In recent days, confusion has been created. So, we sat together and discussed. Our aim is to win the 2028 Assembly elections and the upcoming local body elections. We discussed our strategy. Just as we worked together during the 2023 Assembly polls, we will continue working together in the future. There is no difference between us now, and there will be none in the future. We will move forward together,” he said.

When asked about “keeping the given word,” Siddaramaiah countered the question, saying, “What is this ‘given word’? I have always said that we will follow whatever the high command decides.”

Responding to questions on power sharing, Siddaramaiah maintained, “Whatever the high command tells us, we will obey. Whether you understand it or not, we cannot answer every question you ask.” He reiterated, “Our unity will continue. We are together. KPCC President Shivakumar and I are united, and there is no difference between us.”

“We will follow whatever the high command says. With the Assembly’s Winter Session approaching, they asked us to clear any confusion. There will be no confusion from tomorrow. There is none even now. Some media reports have created confusion,” he asserted.

When asked about MLAs travelling to Delhi, Siddaramaiah said, “I spoke about a Cabinet reshuffle. That does not mean they are against the leadership. Many MLAs have spoken to me after returning from Delhi and explained their reasons.”

He further emphasised, “Whatever the high command decides, directs or instructs will be followed. There is no difference between myself and Shivakumar.”

Giving details of the breakfast meeting, Siddaramaiah said, “Breakfast was good. Dy CM Shivakumar, Legal Advisor A.S. Ponnanna and I were present. But we did not discuss anything during breakfast; we only ate. Shivakumar came to our home. We had breakfast together because AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal had called Ponnanna two days ago and conveyed that we should hold a breakfast meeting.”

“He also called Shivakumar. In fact, Shivakumar insisted that I come to his residence for dinner. I told him I had been asked to host the breakfast meeting, and I would visit his place another day,” Siddaramaiah added.

Speaking about the upcoming Winter Session of the Assembly beginning on December 8, the CM said, “We will face the Opposition effectively — whether it is the BJP or JD(S). It is their habit to spread false propaganda. Dy CM Shivakumar and I will face them effectively and we have devised a strategy.”

On the Opposition’s claim that they will bring a no-confidence motion, Siddaramaiah said, “We have a strength of 142. They have only 64. It is impossible. JD(S) has just 18 MLAs. Together they are 82. A no-confidence move will be a futile exercise. Whatever comes our way, we will face it.”

CM Siddaramaiah further stated that no MLAs and Ministers are against the government.

Dy CM Shivakumar also reiterated the message of unity with CM Siddaramaiah. “As far as the leadership issue is concerned, we will abide by the party high command. Whatever the party tells us, we will implement. We are loyal soldiers of the party,” he said.

–IANS

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