The Railways (Employment of Members of the Armed Forces) Act, 1965
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Railways
Act details
| Short title | The Railways (Employment of Members of the Armed Forces) Act, 1965 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to make certain provisions relating to the employment of members of the Armed Forces of the Union in the working and management of railways. |
| Act number | 40 of 1965 |
| Act year | 1965 |
| Enactment date | 3 Dec 1965 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Railways |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 5 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 3 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of the Railways (Employment of Members of the Armed Forces) Act, 1965
Objectives of the Act
• To ensure the continuous and efficient operation of railway services during emergencies or extraordinary circumstances.
• To authorize the employment of members of the Armed Forces for duties connected with the operation, maintenance, or protection of railways.
• To safeguard essential railway services in the interest of public safety, national security, and the economy.
Key Provisions
• Power of the Central Government: The Act empowers the Central Government to authorize the employment of members of the Armed Forces for railway-related duties whenever it considers such action necessary.
• Railway Duties: Armed Forces personnel may be employed in operating, maintaining, managing, or protecting railway services and railway property as specified under the Act.
• Status and Powers: While performing such duties, members of the Armed Forces exercise the powers and perform the functions assigned under the Act or the orders issued thereunder.
• Rule-making Power: The Central Government is empowered to make rules to carry out the provisions of the Act and regulate the conditions under which such employment takes place.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Railways (Employment of Members of the Armed Forces) Act, 1965
● Act Title - The Railways (Employment of Members of the Armed Forces) Act, 1965
● Act Number / Year - 40 of 1965
● Act ID (India Code) - 196540
● Presidential Assent Date - December 3, 1965
● Enforcement Date - December 3, 1965
● Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Railways
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Wartime Operational Integration of Military Personnel - Enacted in the context of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War to make statutory provisions for military personnel deployed to assist or operate Indian Railways services during national security emergencies.
● Legal Protections and Command Integration - Formulated to ensure that members of the Armed Forces assigned to railway duties are governed by military discipline and military law while exercising the statutory powers, rights, and responsibilities of railway servants.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation - Introduced by the Ministry of Railways to formalize the operational nexus between military deployment and strategic railway transportation during conflict scenarios.
● Parliamentary Passage - Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Third Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) during the November 1965 winter session.
● Presidential Assent - Received Presidential Assent on December 3, 1965.
● Enforcement - Enforced on December 3, 1965.
Source - Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Railways.