No change in procedure for change of name of rail passenger

New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) The Railway Ministry today denied reports appearing in a section of the media that it had decided to allow passengers to travel by train on the confirmed ticket of another passenger after obtaining 'No Objection Certificate' from the original passenger.

''It is clarified here that these reports are without any base and not correct,'' a ministry official said.

The official also clarified that, currently, change of name of a passenger is governed by the Passenger (Change of names) Rules, 1990. Under these Rules, the change of name of a passenger is permissible under certain categories on submission of specific application before the scheduled departure of the train after following the prescribed procedure.

Elaborating, he said change in name can be effected when the passenger is a government servant proceeding on duty and the appropriate authority makes a request to that effect in writing 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.

This can also be done if the passenger makes a request in writing 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train that the reservation made in his name be transferred to another member of his family.

Changes can be made where the passengers are students of a recognised educational institution and the head of the institution makes a request in writing 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train that the reservation made in the name of any student be transferred to any other student of the same institution.

''However, any such request for change shall be granted only once and that, in no case, such request for change in excess of ten per cent of the total strength of the group shall be granted,'' the official pointed out.

A change in name is also possible if the passengers are members of a marriage party and any person, deemed to be the heading such a party, makes a written request 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train that the reservation made in the name of any member of the marriage party be transferred to any other person.

However, any such request for change will be granted only once and that, in no case, such request for change in excess of ten per cent of the total strength of the group will be granted.

The rule also applies if the passengers are a group of NCC cadets and any officer who is the Head of the group makes a request in writing at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train that the reservation made in the name of any cadet be transferred to any other cadet.

''In this case also, any such request for change shall be granted only once and that, in no case, such request for change in excess of ten per cent of the total strength of the group shall be granted,'' he pointed out.

UNI SKS MSJ BS1741