In this Original Application, applicants, seven in number, approached this Tribunal for directing their employer for making payment of overtime allowance to which they are entitled as per rules. The seven applicants namely, Shri G.D. Singh, Shri A. K. Singh, Shri R.G. Bundela, Shri S. B. Singh, Shri S. P. S. Yadav, Shri Brijendra Singh, and Shri P.S. Niranjan all worked in break down vehicles of the Railway under Jhansi Division of the North Central Railway. They had performed over time duty for several days in the month of February'2004. As per the circular of Railway Board No.E(P&A) II-98/BDA-1 dated 25.05.1999, staff attending break down vehicles are entitled to certain allowances including overtime allowance. This has been elaborated in the aforesaid memo of which para 3(iv) says that payment for overtime work, in accordance with normal rules, shall also be admissible and time taken in traveling of the side of accident and back shall be reckoned for payment of overtime.
2. Learned counsel for the applicant has said that although personnel attending to break down Trains in other divisions, such as, Delhi are being paid overtime allowance, these applicants have been deprived of this allowance for reasons not known to them. As evidence they have annexed the relevant order (Annexure-4).
3. I am of the view, that this O.A. may be decided by giving direction to the respondents for considering the Overtime allowance submitted by the applicants (Annexure-5) as permissible in accordance with the circular dated 25.05.1999 and take appropriate decision under the rules, keeping in view the averments made by the applicants that in similar circumstances over time allowance has been paid to concern employees in Delhi Division. After considering the claim, the respondents will pass appropriate, reasoned order within a period of three months from the date of receipt of this order.
4. No Costs. Member-A /ns/