Pink Book, LAW Book & LSWP

 Differences among 

Item	Pink Book	LAW Book	LSWP / Mini LAW
Works	Itemized works	List of Approved Works	Lumpsum Works
Cost	More than Rs. 2.5 Crores	Less than Rs. 2.5 Crores	Less than Rs. 2.5 Crores
Sanction by	Railway Board	Railway Board  and GM	DRM

Pink book:

• Containing Itemised works costing more Rs 2.5 Crores - FWP, M&P, and RSP.

• Unique number is given every year till the work is completed.

• Itemised works - Abstract Cost, Funds allotted, expenditure incurred so far, Funds allotted during the year and Balance Outlay available in the Pink Book. 

• Once the annual Budget is passed, the 'Pink Book' becomes the authority to start preliminary works related to the project.

• Commencing Works - After the sanction of Detailed Estimates only. 

• Physical and Financial progress of works - Monitored through  IRPSM - Indian Railways Projects Sanction & Management.

LAW book:

• Approved works  costing less than Rs 2.5 cr. 

• Works sanctioned by Railway Board & GM.

• All details about cost of the work, expenditure so far incurred, outlay of the year, and balance will be available in the LAW book.

LSWP or Mini LAW

• LSWP stands for Lumpsum Works Program

• Also called as Mini LAW (List of Approved Works)

• At Divisional Level.

• Within the prescribed limits in that particular year. 

• Subject to the funds availability in that particular year. 

 

• Should be completed in 1 or 2 years. 

 

• This list of works prepared at divisional level is called lump sum works program (LS WP) or DRM's Mini LAW (list of approved works) book.

• Administrative approval shall be obtained by the Sr.DEN/Co-ordination

• Sr.DEN/Coordination shall be responsible for the publication of the DRM’s LSWP or MINI LAW BOOK.

• Should not be more than the PC (Permissible Cost) available to the DRM under a particular Plan Head

• Any item of work that features in the MINI LAW BOOK for 2 years or more without sanction of the detailed estimate must be dropped from the same..

• Up to Rs. 2.5 Crores - Passenger amenity works and works related to traffic facilities, track renewals, bridges, level crossings

• Up to Rs. 1 Crore - Works of S&T , other electrical, traction, staff quarters etc.

Key points for MCQ

1. LAW stands for List of Approved Works 

2. LSWP stands for Lumpsum Works Program 

3. LSWP also called as Mini LAW

4. Pink Book  - More than Rs. 2.5 Crores 

5. LAW & LSWP  - Less than Rs. 2.5 Crores

6. Sanction by: 

• Pink Book works  -  By Railway Board

• LAW - Railway Board & GM 

• LSWP - DRM

7. Monitoring the works - through IRPSM 

8. IRPSM stands for Indian Railways Projects Sanctioning & Management

9. LSWP - Should be completed in 1 or 2 Years. 

10. Coordinator for LSWP - Sr.DEN/Co-ordination. 

11. LSWP - Should not be more than PC under the relevant Plan Head at Divisional Level.

12. PC =  C x N - TF 

13. PC stands for Permissible Cost 

14. C stands for Ceiling, N stands for Norms & TF stands for Through Forward 

15. Up to Rs. 2.5 Crores - Passenger amenity works and works related to traffic facilities, track renewals, bridges, level crossings

16. Up to Rs. 1 Crore - Works of S&T , other electrical, traction, staff quarters etc.

–end–

Study Material on Expenditure (English & Hindi), Books & Budget (English & Hindi), GRP Part 1 (English & Hindi), GRP Part 2 (English) and Management Accounting (English)

Study Material Index 

By Nageswara Rao M, 9492432160

 

English Medium
Subject	No of pages	No of Topics	No of MCQs
GRP Part One	165	68
GRP Part Two	277	33	289
Books & Budget	126	42
Expenditure	240	80	139
Management Accounting	113	42
Total	921	265	428

 

अध्ययन सामग्री सूचकांक

 

हिंदी माध्यम
विषय	पृष्ठों की संख्या	विषयों की संख्या	एमसीक्यू की संख्या
जीआरपी भाग एक	157	68
जीआरपी भाग दो	कुछ ही देर में
बुक और बजट अध्ययन सामग्री	125	42
व्यय अध्ययन सामग्री - अक्टूबर, 2021	245	78	139
Total	527	188	139

 Coming soon:

1. Differences between Questions & Answers

2. Advanced Bookkeeping

3. Traffic Accounts 

4. Workshop Accounts

5. Stores Accounts

6. The study material for LDCE of Departments (other than Accounts)

7. GRP Part Two (Hindi Medium)

Click for Details of Study Material Index

 

Arbitration & Conciliation

• Settlement of Disputes - 3 Stages

1. Conciliation.  If it fails, then

 

2. Arbitration. If this one too fails, then

3. Judicial proceedings

  

●     Authority: Click for Indian Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996. New Act is “Indian Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 - Simple, straight and easy in its understanding & implementation. It repeals the Arbitration Act, 1929. 

●     Source: Clauses 63 & 64  Click for GCC for Works,2022 April  

• 90 days - If the Contractor does not prefer his claims in writing within a period of 90 days of receiving the intimation from the Railways that the final bill is ready for payment, he will be deemed to have waived hi claim and the Railways shall be discharged and released all liabilities and under the contract in respect of these claims. 

What is Conciliation ?

  1.    The action of mediating between two disputing people.

2.    An alternative out of court dispute resolution instrument.

3.    An alternative to Arbitration too.

4.    The parties seek to reach an amicable dispute settlement.

5.    The Conciliator, a neutral third party assists the conciliation process.

6.    Voluntary proceedings. Both parties are free to agree to it.

7.    The process is flexible, allowing parties to define the time, structure and content of the conciliation proceedings.

8.     The ultimate decision to agree on the settlement remains with the parties. 

Conciliation:

 

1. Notice of Dispute:   By Contractor to Railways  - Within 30 days from the date of issue of Completion Certificate by Chief Engineer.

2. Notify the name(s) of Conciliator(s) to the Contractor  - Within 30 days from the date of receipt of “Notice of Dispute”

3. Conciliator(s) shall assist the parties to reach an amicable settlement in an independent and impartial manner within the terms of contract.

4. During Conciliation proceedings - Parties shall not initiate any arbitral or judicial proceedings.  

5. If parties reach an agreement due to the above efforts of Conciliator - Draw up and Sign a Written Settlement Agreement by all parties and Conciliator and it is final and binding for all.  

6. Termination of Conciliation proceedings (Section 76 of ‘The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996)   

• By the signing of the settlement agreement by the parties, or

• By a written declaration of the conciliator, after consultation with the parties, to the effect that further efforts at conciliation are no longer justified, or

• By a written declaration of the parties addressed to the conciliator to the effect that the conciliation proceedings are terminated,  or

• By a written declaration of a party to the other party and the conciliator, if appointed, to the effect that the conciliation proceedings are terminated.

 ● What is Arbitration?

 

1.    Use of an Arbitrator to settle a dispute between parties arising out of contract.

2.    An inbuilt mechanism in Contracts.

3.    Without going through the judiciary.

 

● Who is an Arbitrator ?

 An Independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute.

  

● Reasons for Arbitration cases

 

1.     Site not handed over in time due to delayed land acquisition.

2.    Non removal of Powerline crossings

3.    Non availability of P.Way materials

4.    Delay in obtaining clearances from Forest Dept, Environment ministry etc

5.    Not preparing plans/drawings/designs in advance.

6.    Inadequate delay in issuing instructions.

7.    Frequent changes in Scope, Design, Plans of work during the tenure of contract.

8.    Non finalization of variation statements

9.    Delay in making measurements and arranging passing of bills

10.  Inadequate funds availability leads to delay in payments

11.  Non attending grievances of contractor promptly

12.  Improper fixation of completion of time leading to number of extensions.

●     Excepted matters are not arbitrable. Clauses 8, 18, 22(5), 39, 43(2), 45(a), 55, 55-A(5), 57, 57A,61(1), 61(2) and 62(1) of Standard General Conditions of Contract or in any Clause (stated as excepted matter) of the Special Conditions of the Contract)  -  Decision of the Railway authority shall be final and binding on the Contractor.

 

1. Clause 7(j) - Assignment or Subletting of Contract: Further, in case Engineer is of the view that subcontractor’s performance is not satisfactory, he may instruct the Contractor to remove the subcontractor from the work and Contractor has to comply with the above instructions with due promptness. Contractor shall intimate the actual date of discontinuation of subcontract to Engineer. No claim of Contractor whatsoever on this account shall be entertained by the Railway and this shall be deemed as ‘excepted matter’ (matter not arbitrable). 

2. Clause 8 - Assistance by Railway for the Stores to be obtained by the Contractor:

3. Clause 18 -Illegal Gratification, bribe, commission, gift or advantage provided by Contractor to the Railway Official.

4. Clause 22(5) - Specifications and Drawings

5. Clause 39 - Rates for extra items of work

6. Clause 43(2) - After signing “No Claim Certificate” by Contractor

7. Clause 45 (i)(a) - Measurement of Works by Railway:

8. Clause 55 A (5) - Provisions of Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970

9. Clause 57 - Provision of Workmen Compensation Act

10. Clause 57 (A)- Provision of Mines Act:

11. Clause 61(1) - Right of Railway to Determine the Contract

12. Clause 61(2) - Payment on Determination of Contract

13. Clause 62(1) -  Determination of Contract owing to Default of Contractor

  

● Demand for Arbitration:

• 120 to 180 days - If Railway fails to take a decision on Contractor’s claim within 120 days, Contractor shall make demand for Arbitration after 120 days but before 180 days from the date of Contractor’s claim

 

•  In Writing

• Specify the matters and claims

• Within 30 days from the date of appointing Arbitral tribunal  - Claimant shall submit his/her claims with supportive documents.

• Railway’s counterclaim  - 60 days from the date of appointing Arbitral tribunal.

• Place of Arbitration:  Within Division or Hqrs or any other place with the written consent of both the parties. 

 

• No new claim during the proceedings by either party. However either of the parties can amend or supplement the original claim or defense subject to the acceptance by the Tribunal. 

 

● Cost of Arbitration  - borne by both parties equally.   

• A party may apply for corrections of any computational errors, any typographical or clerical errors or any other error of similar nature occurring in the award of Tribunal and interpretation of specific point of award to Tribunal within 60 days of receipt of the award. 

• Appointment of Arbitrators - Where applicability of Section 12(5) of Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 2015 (Arbitrator’s relationship with the parties or counsel ) has been waived off 

• The serving Officer can continue as Arbitrator  in the Tribunal even after Retirement.

• In case of Tribunal, comprising 3 members - Award shall be made by the majority of members of Tribunal.  In the absence of such a majority, the views of the presiding arbitrator shall prevail. 

 

Amount of Claim	No of Arbitrators	Remarks
Up to Rs. one Crore	Sole	JAG and above
Above Rs. One Crore	Three	3 JAG Officers & above Or  2 JAG Officers & above & 1 Retd SAG & above

•  Appointment of Arbitrators - Where applicability of Section 12(5) of Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 2015 (Arbitrator’s relationship with the parties or counsel ) has not been waived off

Amount of Claim	No of Arbitrators	Remarks
Up to Rs. 50 Lakhs	Sole	Retired SAG & above
Above Rs. 50 Lakhs	Three	Retired 3 JAG Officers & above

Qualifications of Arbitrators: 

1. Serving Gazetted officers of JAG & above 

2. Retired Railway Officers of SAG & above , one year after his date of retirement

3. Below 70 Years.

 &&&&&