Railways introduces key reforms for train controllers
New Delhi (PTI): In a significant move to ensure safety of train operations, the Railway ministry on Wednesday announced some key reforms for enhancing the functioning and working conditions of train controllers.
"Train controllers must serve a minimum of three years in the control office to build domain knowledge and operate at optimal levels. Only experienced and meritorious traffic inspectors and station masters with good service records will be selected as train controllers," a senior railway official said, simplifying the terms of the reforms.
He added, "Controllers must undergo mandatory refresher courses every five years, with simulator-based and scenario-driven learning modules incorporated into the curriculum. A performance monitoring mechanism will be institutionalised to review controllers' performance based on punctuality indices, emergency handling, communication skills and command over working rules."
Ministry officials stated that a proper succession and rotation plan will be maintained for all posts in control offices to prevent over-reliance on individual controllers. The ministry has also decided to introduce measures like yoga sessions, counselling and periodic health check-ups to address the high-stress nature of the job.
On August 27, 2024, the Railway ministry constituted a six-member committee -- three Additional Members of Staff, Revenue and Traffic; one Principal Executive Director of Infra, and two Executive Directors of Transformation and Traffic Transportation -- to examine and recommend ways to improve the working conditions of train controllers.
The said committee came into being after the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) flagged several concerning issues such as pay scale, vacancies, recruitment process and basic amenities.
PTI, on August 25, 2024, had published a detailed report on the study by RDSO, which functions under the Railway ministry, according to which the train controllers face multiple challenges at work including "unattractive" pay scale, huge stress due to vacancy leading to health concerns and a lack of basic amenities.
The June 25, 2025 circular, addressed to all the zones, said that the key initiatives have been taken after the committee's recommendations and to make "Railway Traffic Control Organisation at par with the global best".
"It has been decided to rename the Traffic Control as Operations & Traffic Control to serve as an Integrated Command Centre of all departments and branches involved in train operations," the circular said.
It added that the traffic controllers' cadre as a trained talent pool shall be filled by the prescribed streams such as direct recruitment, limited departmental competitive examination, departmental selection, et cetera, and "a standard working environment and facilities shall be provided to all staff working in control office."
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Karnataka MLA Vinay Kulkarni disqualified after conviction in Goudar murder case
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Saturday issued an official notification regarding the disqualification of Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni following his conviction in the murder case of BJP leader Yogeshgouda Goudar.
The former minister is currently in prison, serving life imprisonment in the case.
“Consequent upon the conviction of Vinay Kulkarni, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Dharwad constituency, by the LXXXI Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru City (CCH-82), in Spl CC No. 565/2021, he stands disqualified from the membership of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the date of conviction, i.e, April 15, 2026,” the notification read.
“He stands disqualified in terms of the provisions of Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution of India, read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and such disqualification shall continue for a further period of six years after his release, unless the conviction is stayed by a competent court,” it added.
Hence, one seat in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has fallen vacant, the notification said.
Bypolls were held on April 9 to fill two other seats in the 224-member Assembly that fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLAs. The results will be declared on May 4.
On April 15, Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat convicted Kulkarni and others under various IPC sections, including criminal conspiracy and murder. Subsequently, on April 17, the court sentenced Kulkarni and 15 others convicted in the case to life imprisonment.
The case pertains to the killing of Goudar, a BJP Zilla Panchayat member, in Dharwad on June 15, 2016. Kulkarni was a minister at that time. Hired assailants attacked and hacked Goudar to death in his gym at Saptapur in Dharwad.
Following demands from Goudar’s family and others, the then-BJP government transferred the case to the CBI in 2019.
The CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet in 2020, naming Vinay Kulkarni as the “main conspirator.” It alleged that he perceived Yogeshgouda Goudar as a growing political rival in Dharwad and hired contract killers to eliminate him.
Kulkarni was arrested by the CBI in 2020. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in August 2021 under certain conditions, including a ban on entering Dharwad district. However, in June 2025, the apex court cancelled his bail following allegations of witness tampering and attempts to influence prosecution witnesses.
Kulkarni again sought bail in January 2026, but the High Court rejected it, citing judicial propriety.
However, the Supreme Court granted him bail on February 27 after noting that all witnesses had been examined.
