Indian Railway concludes the colonial era  “ Dak Messengers ” & “Bungalow peons “practice  

India railway last month issued an order to end the British-era practice of using bungalow peons or personal messengers for the official communications and to move with the technological era holding hands with video conferencing in a bid to save the high cost of transports. 

It was generally transportation of sensitive files between the government agencies through the railway services.  Dak messengers are identified and given the responsibility for ferrying important files, documents, or sensitive nature across the rails. Indian railways have suggested abolishing this concept and instructed to transfers files using digital platforms, secure e-mails, end-to-end encrypted video conferencing. 

The railway officers tended to misuse the services of Telephone Attendant-cum-Dak Khalasis (TADK’s). TADK’s practice is ended according to the new colonial-era practice of posting at the residents of senior officials. 

“The issue regarding the appointment of TADK is under review in Railway board. It has therefore been decided that any appointment of fresh face substitute as TADK should not either be processed or made with immediate effect. Further, all cases approved for such an appointment since 1st July 2020 may be reviewed and position advised to Board. This may be complied with strictly in all Railway establishments,” the order said

The TADK aims to attend telephone calls and carrying files from their officers to homes. They are regarded as temporary employees till an initial period of 120 days of service and they are generally included in the Group D category. But after the officers feel satisfied with the appointed TADK then he becomes an personnel permanent employee after completion of three years of services. 

There are some reasons for the abolishment of TADK’s :

1. As with the development of technology the working conditions are changing by adaptation of fast transforming paths of all-round practices hence management has reviewed and analyzed to conclude this post with the era of modernization with technological developmental interactions.

2. Misuse of TADK’s has been found to perform household chores for the senior railway officers, following allegations have resulted at the end of these posts. 

 In 2018 a verdict on a case filed by the former TADK, Anup Kumar, in CAT where he was been discharged from his job with an illegal and arbitrary reason by the senior railway officer ad the CAT at also supported his resignment. 

“According to the applicant it was found that there was rampant misuse of the power by the senior railway officers and the TADK,s were generally thrown out for their slightest mistakes and they were forced to perform domestic chores apart from their engagement in supplying railway services to the railway officers.