On 12 August 2026, the Railway Board issued RBE No. 65/2026 (File No. E(D&A) 2020 RG6-6), an important clarificatory circular addressed to General Managers of all Indian Railways and Production Units. The circular settles a question that had been creating confusion in disciplinary proceedings across the railway system: can a departmental inquiry be conducted through video conferencing even when there is no pandemic or natural calamity?
The short answer, according to the Railway Board, is yes — provided the Disciplinary Authority records its reasons in writing.
This article breaks down what the circular says, why it was needed, and what it means in practice for Disciplinary Authorities, Inquiry Officers, and Railway employees facing disciplinary action.
Background: The 2024 Amendment to Rule 9(2)
To understand RBE No. 65/2026, it helps to go back two years. On 22 May 2024, the Ministry of Railways notified an amendment to Rule 9(2) of the Railway Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1968 through GSR No. 286(E), inserting a new proviso that formally permitted the use of video conferencing in departmental inquiries. On the same date, the government also notified detailed regulations governing how such VC-based inquiries should be conducted, via GSR No. 287(E). The Railway Board had earlier circulated these changes through a letter dated 29 May 2024.
The inserted proviso allowed a Disciplinary Authority to conduct an inquiry — or authorise an Inquiring Authority to do so — through video conferencing in two distinct situations:
- Exceptional circumstances, such as a pandemic or a natural calamity, or
- Any other situation where the Disciplinary Authority is satisfied, for reasons recorded in writing, that VC mode is appropriate.
Despite this clear two-limb structure in the rule itself, a perception seems to have taken hold in the field that video conferencing could be used only during emergencies like COVID-19 or floods — and not as a matter of routine administrative convenience. RBE No. 65/2026 was issued specifically to correct this misunderstanding.
What RBE No. 65/2026 Clarifies
The circular reproduces the second proviso to Rule 9(2) and draws out its practical meaning in plain terms. Here are the key clarifications:
1. Video Conferencing Is Not Restricted to Emergencies
The Railway Board has explicitly stated that there is no restriction in the rules limiting VC-based inquiries to exceptional situations alone. A Disciplinary Authority can choose to hold an inquiry through video conferencing even in ordinary, non-emergency circumstances, as long as it records its reasons for doing so.
2. Two Independent Grounds for Using VC
The proviso to Rule 9(2) provides an enabling — not a restrictive — framework. It permits video conferencing in either of these scenarios:
- During a pandemic or natural calamity, or
- Wherever the Disciplinary Authority is satisfied, based on reasons recorded in writing, that the inquiry should proceed digitally.
These are alternative, not cumulative, conditions — meeting either one is sufficient.
3. Who Can Decide to Use VC
The decision to conduct an inquiry via video conferencing can be taken by the Disciplinary Authority in either of two ways:
- The Disciplinary Authority may conduct the inquiry itself through VC, or
- The Disciplinary Authority may authorise an Inquiry Officer to conduct the inquiry through VC.
4. Whole or Partial Use of VC
The inquiry proceedings — recording of evidence, examination of witnesses, cross-examination, and other stages — may be conducted wholly or partly through video conferencing. This gives Disciplinary Authorities and Inquiry Officers flexibility to use VC for some stages of the proceedings while conducting others in person, depending on practical needs.
5. Compliance with the 2024 Regulations Is Mandatory
While the circular widens the scope for using video conferencing, it does not dilute procedural safeguards. Railways have been directed to ensure that wherever VC mode is used, the proceedings must strictly follow the regulations notified vide GSR No. 287(E) dated 22.5.2024, so that the principles of natural justice — such as a fair opportunity to be heard, proper cross-examination, and adequate access to documents — remain fully protected.
Why This Clarification Matters
Disciplinary inquiries under the D&A Rules can be lengthy, involving multiple hearings, witness examinations, and document verification. In a geographically spread-out organisation like the Indian Railways — where officials, witnesses, and charged employees may be posted in different zones or even different states — insisting on physical presence for every hearing can cause avoidable delays.
By confirming that VC-based inquiries are a general administrative option and not an emergency-only measure, RBE No. 65/2026 is expected to:
- Speed up disciplinary proceedings by removing unnecessary travel and scheduling constraints.
- Reduce costs associated with travel, accommodation, and logistics for witnesses and Inquiry Officers.
- Improve consistency in how different zonal railways interpret and apply the video conferencing provision.
- Preserve fairness by tying the flexibility to a written-reasons requirement and mandatory compliance with the 2024 regulations.
Key Takeaways for Railway Officials
| Point | Clarification |
| Applicable Rule | Rule 9(2), Railway Servants (D&A) Rules, 1968 |
| Governing Notifications | GSR No. 286(E) and GSR No. 287(E), both dated 22.05.2024 |
| Circular | RBE No. 65/2026, dated 12.08.2026, File No. E(D&A) 2020 RG6-6 |
| Who can order VC inquiry | Disciplinary Authority (itself or through an authorised Inquiry Officer) |
| When VC can be used | During pandemics/natural calamities, OR when reasons are recorded in writing — no restriction to emergencies only |
| Extent of VC use | Wholly or partly, at any stage of the inquiry |
| Mandatory safeguard | Full compliance with GSR No. 287(E) regulations to uphold natural justice |
Conclusion
RBE No. 65/2026 is a short but significant circular. Rather than introducing a new rule, it removes ambiguity around an existing one — confirming that video conferencing in railway disciplinary inquiries is a standing administrative tool available to Disciplinary Authorities whenever justified reasons are recorded, not a special dispensation reserved for pandemics or disasters. Railway employees, Inquiry Officers, and Disciplinary Authorities should now proceed with the understanding that VC-based inquiries are permissible in routine cases too, subject strictly to the safeguards laid down in the 2024 regulations.
This article is based on RBE No. 65/2026 issued by the Railway Board on 12 August 2026. For the official circular and Hindi version, employees should refer to the original notification issued by the Ministry of Railways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can a railway disciplinary inquiry be held over video conferencing without a pandemic or natural calamity? Yes. As clarified by RBE No. 65/2026, the Disciplinary Authority can order a VC-based inquiry in ordinary circumstances too, provided it records its reasons in writing.
Q2. Which rule governs video conferencing in railway disciplinary inquiries? Rule 9(2) of the Railway Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1968, as amended by GSR No. 286(E) dated 22 May 2024.
Q3. Can only part of the inquiry be conducted via VC? Yes. The inquiry may be conducted wholly or partly through video conferencing, at the discretion of the Disciplinary Authority or Inquiry Officer.
Q4. What safeguards apply to VC-based inquiries? All VC inquiries must comply with the regulations notified via GSR No. 287(E) dated 22 May 2024, ensuring principles of natural justice are followed.