Full Name: The Railway Servants (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1968

Common Name: RS (D&A) Rules, 1968 / D&A Rules
Effective From: 1 October 1968
Authority: Made by the President under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution. (Indian Railways)

These rules are extremely important for Railway Departmental, Promotion, ACM, DCM and CBT examinations because they cover suspension, disciplinary proceedings, penalties, appeals, revision and review.

🎯 EXAM TIP:
D&A Rules → Suspension + Penalty + Inquiry + Appeal + Revision + Review

1. What are D&A Rules?

The Railway Servants (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1968 provide the procedure for taking disciplinary action against Railway servants and for giving them a right to appeal against specified orders.

The rules broadly cover:

• Suspension

• Minor and major penalties

• Disciplinary authorities

• Departmental inquiry

• Appeals

• Revision

• Review

The rules came into force on 1 October 1968. 

2. To Whom Do These Rules Apply?

The rules generally apply to Railway servants.

However, they do not apply to:

The President may also exclude any class of Railway servants from the operation of all or part of these rules. (Indian Railways)

🎯 MCQ: D&A Rules, 1968 do not apply to RPF personnel.

3. Important Rules at a Glance

🧠 Easy Memory

5 = Suspension
6 = Penalty
9 = Major Penalty Inquiry
11 = Minor Penalty Procedure
20 = Appeal Time
25 = Revision
25-A = Review

4. Suspension – Rule 5

A Railway servant may be placed under suspension when:

1. A disciplinary proceeding is contemplated or pending.

2. The competent authority considers that the employee has engaged in activities prejudicial to State security.

3. A criminal case is under investigation, inquiry or trial. 

Deemed Suspension

A Railway servant is deemed to be under suspension:

• From the date of detention if detained for more than 48 hours.

• From the date of conviction if sentenced to imprisonment exceeding 48 hours, subject to the rule's conditions. 

🎯 EXAM TIP:
Detention > 48 hours = Deemed Suspension

5. Review of Suspension

An order of suspension under Rule 5 is not valid beyond 90 days unless it is extended after review before expiry of the 90 days.

A subsequent extension cannot exceed 180 days at a time.

⭐ Very Important:
90 Days → Review
180 Days → Maximum extension at a time

6. Penalties – Rule 6

The penalties are divided into:

A. Minor Penalties

These are specified in Rule 6(i) to 6(iv). 

7. Major Penalties

Rule 6 specifically provides that removal is not a disqualification for future Government/Railway employment, whereas dismissal ordinarily is. 

🧠 Easy Memory

Minor:
C → P → R → Pass → Stage → Increment

Major:
Reduction → Lower Grade → Compulsory Retirement → Removal → Dismissal

🎯 EXAM TIP:
Removal ≠ Dismissal
Removal ordinarily does not disqualify future employment; dismissal ordinarily does.

8. Suspension is NOT a Penalty

This is a very common MCQ.

Suspension is not one of the penalties listed under Rule 6.

It is a temporary administrative measure governed by Rule 5.

❓ Question: Is suspension a punishment under D&A Rules?
✅ Answer: No.

9. Disciplinary Authority – Rule 7

The President can impose any penalty specified in Rule 6.

Other disciplinary authorities are specified in Schedules I, II and III.

The authority competent to impose penalties depends upon the applicable schedule, category of employee and relevant disciplinary powers.

🎯 Exam Tip:
Don't try to memorize one universal authority for every Railway employee. Check the applicable Schedule.

10. Major Penalty Proceedings – Rule 9

A major penalty cannot normally be imposed without an inquiry as prescribed under the rules.

The disciplinary authority may:

• Conduct the inquiry itself, or

• Appoint an Inquiring Authority/Board of Inquiry.

The charge memorandum contains:

1. Articles of charge

2. Statement of imputations

3. List of documents

4. List of witnesses. 

11. Reply to Charge Sheet

The Railway servant is required to submit a written statement of defence within 10 days, or within such further time as the disciplinary authority may allow.

The employee may also indicate whether they wish to be heard in person.

🎯 MCQ: Written defence to major penalty charge memorandum → 10 days.

12. Defence Assistance

A Railway servant may generally take assistance of another eligible Railway servant.

A retired Railway servant may also assist subject to applicable conditions.

For non-gazetted staff, assistance from an official of a recognized Railway Trade Union is also provided subject to the rules.

A legal practitioner is not ordinarily permitted unless the conditions specified in the rules are satisfied.

13. Minor Penalty Proceedings – Rule 11

Rule 11 deals with the procedure for imposing minor penalties.

The procedure depends upon the particular minor penalty and circumstances. For certain minor penalties, a more detailed inquiry under Rule 9 is required as prescribed by the rule.

🎯 Remember:
Rule 9 → Major Penalty
Rule 11 → Minor Penalty

14. Appeal Under D&A Rules

A Railway servant can appeal against specified orders.

Appeal can lie against, among other things:

• An order of suspension under Rule 5

• An order imposing a penalty under Rule 6

• An order enhancing a penalty

• Certain orders affecting pay, allowances, pension, PF or other service conditions.

15. Orders Against Which No Appeal Lies

Under Rule 17, no appeal lies against:

1. An order made by the President

2. Certain interlocutory/step-in-aid orders, except an order of suspension

3. An order passed by an Inquiring Authority during an inquiry under Rule 9. 

16. Time Limit for Appeal – Rule 20

An appeal should normally be filed within:

45 Days

The period is counted from the date on which the copy of the order is delivered to the appellant.

The appellate authority may entertain a delayed appeal if satisfied that there was sufficient cause for the delay.

🔥 EXAM TIP:
Appeal = 45 Days

17. What Can the Appellate Authority Do?

While considering an appeal against a penalty, the appellate authority considers:

• Whether the prescribed procedure was followed

• Whether the findings are supported by evidence

• Whether the penalty is adequate, inadequate or severe

It may:

• Confirm

• Enhance

• Reduce

• Set aside the penalty

• Remit the case for further action/inquiry.

18. Revision – Rule 25

Revision is different from an ordinary appeal.

Specified authorities such as the President, Railway Board and General Manager, among others specified in Rule 25, may call for records and revise orders under the rules, subject to the conditions of the rule. 

A revision may result in:

• Confirmation

• Modification

• Setting aside of order

• Reduction/enhancement of penalty

• Imposition of penalty where none was imposed

• Remitting the case for further inquiry/action.

Important

Normally, revision proceedings do not commence until:

Appeal limitation expires OR appeal is disposed of.

There are specified exceptions, including Railway accident cases. 

19. Review – Rule 25-A

Review is covered under Rule 25-A.

The President may review an order when new material or evidence, which could not be produced or was not available at the time of the original order, comes to notice and has the effect of changing the nature of the case.

Procedural safeguards apply before imposing or enhancing penalties.

🎯 Memory Trick:
25 = Revision
25-A = Review

20. Appeal vs Revision vs Review

🔥 Most Important Numbers

⭐ Top 20 MCQs – D&A Rules 1968

1. D&A Rules came into force on?

1 October 1968

2. D&A Rules are made under the proviso to which Article?

Article 309 of the Constitution

3. Which rule deals with suspension?

Rule 5

4. Detention for more than how many hours results in deemed suspension?

48 hours

5. How often must suspension be reviewed before the initial 90-day period expires?

Before expiry of 90 days

6. Maximum period for one extension of suspension?

180 days

7. Which rule contains penalties?

Rule 6

8. Is suspension a penalty?

No

9. Which is a minor penalty?

Censure

10. Which is a major penalty?

Dismissal from service

11. Which rule deals with major penalty procedure?

Rule 9

12. Which rule deals with minor penalty procedure?

Rule 11

13. Normal time for written defence to major penalty charge memorandum?

10 days

14. Normal limitation for an appeal?

45 days

15. Which rule deals with limitation for appeal?

Rule 20

16. Which rule deals with revision?

Rule 25

17. Which rule deals with review?

Rule 25-A

18. Who may review under Rule 25-A?

President

19. Does removal ordinarily disqualify future Government/Railway employment?

No

20. Does dismissal ordinarily disqualify future Government/Railway employment?

Yes

🧠 Super Memory Trick

Remember:

“5 – 6 – 9 – 11 – 20 – 25 – 25A”

5 → Suspension
6 → Penalties
9 → Major Inquiry
11 → Minor Penalty
20 → Appeal
25 → Revision
25A → Review

And remember:

48 → 90 → 180 → 45

48 hours → Deemed Suspension

90 days → Suspension Review

180 days → Maximum extension at a time

45 days → Appeal

One-Minute Revision Chart

🎯 Final Exam Takeaway

For ACM and Railway Departmental/CBT examinations, don't try to memorise every provision of the D&A Rules at once.

First master these:

Rule 5 → Suspension

Rule 6 → Penalties

Rule 9 → Major Penalty Inquiry

Rule 11 → Minor Penalty Procedure

Rule 20 → 45-Day Appeal

Rule 25 → Revision

Rule 25-A → Review

And the most important numbers:

48 hours | 90 days | 180 days | 10 days | 45 days

⭐ ACM EXAM TIP: If you remember “5-6-9-11-20-25-25A” + “48-90-180-10-45”, you have a strong foundation for most basic D&A Rules MCQs.

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