Southern Railway office, meanwhile, has clarified that the shortlisted candidates arrived by flight and underwent 14 days mandatory quarantine and swab tests. But, Tiruchy Collector S Sivarasu, when contacted had said that his office had sought details from the workshop’s authorities about the persons who arrived and details of their e-passes. “We have sought the details and if any discrepancy is found, will initiate action against the officials,” the Collector said.

The Southern Railway office on Thursday stated that the scrutiny of documents was carried out duly adhering to safety protocols of social distancing at Rail Kalyana Mandapam, Tiruchy over two sessions (morning and evening) dividing the candidates into two groups and ensuring that only 24 persons, including Railway staff, were present at the venue. The SR note also stated that the photograph showing the candidates sitting under a tree at Rail Kalyana Mandapam campus (vide report in these columns on August 5) must have been taken before 8 am on the day as the candidates were asked to report only at 10 am.

The photograph was, in fact, taken around 12.30 pm when the protest was going on and contrary to claims, the second session of the certificate verification process was conducted at a different venue following the protest by the candidates.

The employment of technical staff from Tamil Nadu at the workshop has been a vexed issue. As per the available data, out of the total recruits, 163 were from Bihar, 115 from Rajasthan, 87 from West Bengal, 49 from Jharkhand, 36 from Uttar Pradesh, 29 from Odisha, 16 from Andhra Pradesh and 12 each from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The SR office has stated that only 114 candidates were called for certificate verification on August 4 out of which only 63 candidates reported. The railway office note further stated that “recruitments for various posts are conducted on an all-India basis. Recruitment for the post of Technician Gr.III was conducted by RRB as notified in Notification No.01/2018. Based on this selection, Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Southern Railway had allotted some candidates for Central Workshop, Ponmalai. However, due to lockdown, this process was postponed.”

“It may be noted that Railways engage apprentices in workshops and production units and impart them technical training to develop skilled manpower. Employment in Railways is not guaranteed on completion of the apprenticeship. However, as a socially responsible entity, Railways have earmarked 20 per cent posts in RRC (Level-1) for which aspirants who have completed Railway apprentice training are free to apply, the SR note added.

Meanwhile, the workshop had refused permission, till August 8, to as many as 800 workers attaining 55 years to resume work as train services had not yet resumed consequent to the imposition of lockdown following coronavirus pandemic. The railway union had questioned the urgent need for appointing new workers from other states at this juncture.

Members from various pro-Tamil outfits staged a protest in front of the Golden Rock Railway Workshop here on Friday alleging refusal of employment to youth from the State and lack of transparency in appointments in the workshop for which certificate verification is in progress. According to the Tamilaga Velai Niragarikkapatta Ilaignar Urimai Meetpu Kootamaippu (Confederation of Rights Retrieval Movement of Tamil Nadu Youth Refused Employment) which led the protest, despite the lockdown norms being in place, the Golden Rock Railway Workshop administration has been conducting certificate verification for technical posts for which several hundreds of youngsters from north India have been called. “We suspect there was no transparency in the filling up of vacancies. There are several thousands of youth who have completed apprenticeship in the workshop and have been waiting for employment. The workshop administration should prioritise us in providing employment while filling up the vacancies. We have been fighting to fill 90 per cent of posts with the people from Tamil Nadu in such institutions,” said N Karthikeyan, one of the coordinators of the protest. The protesters raised slogans in support of their demand. They added that their protest would continue until the demands were met. Members from CPM, Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Tamil Desiya Periyakkam and other pro-Tamil outfits participated in the protest. Meanwhile, heavy posse of police was deployed at the venue.