7th Pay Commission recommendations present a host of benefits for ‘running staff’ of the Indian Railways. The status of ‘running staff’ is granted to loco pilots, assistant loco pilots, guards and brakesman currently; however, the ticket checkers are excluded from this category. The 7th CPC Pay Scale offers a plethora of benefits that make the salaries of employees with ‘running staff’ status 30% higher than those without it. The difference in pensions also mounts to Rs.5000-6000 gap between running staff and non-running staff.

As per reports, the government is forming a committee to include ticket checkers on the list of running staff of Indian Railways, which implies that these railway employees too will be entitled to a host of benefits given as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations to loco pilots, ALPs and others.

The government is forming a special committee to bring back ticket checkers in the realm of running staff, as they were once part of the same in the pre-Independence era. It was in the year 1931, when on account of helping freedom fighters in transporting ammunition and supporters, ticket checkers were bereaved of the running staff status and the benefits it ensued.

Fellow nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh too had restored the status in the past for ticket checkers in the years 1962 and 2004, respectively.

As per a government official, the Ministry of Indian Railways has formed a three-member committee which will present its report and come out with a decision in the next three-months. If the outcome is positive, then it will bring cheer to lakhs of Indian Railways employees currently working in the capacity of ticket checkers as the 7th Pay Commission benefits will be extended to them as well.