**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 828 in Lok Sabha regarding the issuance of headquarters quota for ticket confirmation, to be answered on February 4, 2026. It addresses concerns about priority for special directives from distinguished persons/Members of Parliament. The document explains the Railways' procedure for releasing Emergency Quota to High Official Requisition (HOR) holders and handling complaints from Members of Parliament.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Emergency Quota Allocation:**
* A limited accommodation is earmarked as Emergency Quota in different trains and classes to meet urgent travel requirements of HOR holders (including Central Government Ministers, Judges of Hon'ble Supreme Court/High Courts, Members of Parliament) and other emergent demands.
* The quota is released according to the warrant of precedence and well-established practice.
* **Allotment Procedure:**
* Emergency quota is first allotted for self travel of HOR holders/Members of Parliament, strictly based on inter-se seniority in warrant of precedence.
* Remaining quota is released considering factors like official status of passengers, nature of urgency (government duty, bereavement, sickness, job interview, etc.).
* **Request Handling and Complaint Resolution:**
* Requests are received from various quarters and levels, handled on a day-to-day basis.
* Details of requests received for Emergency Quota release are preserved as per extant guidelines.
* Complaints from Members of Parliament regarding non-release of accommodation are examined, and suitable action is taken, if required. Separate statistics of such complaints are not maintained.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: High Official Requisition (HOR) holders/Members of Parliament**
* **Impact:** The document clarifies the process for Emergency Quota allocation for ticket confirmation, particularly the prioritization based on the warrant of precedence for self-travel and the consideration of other factors for remaining quota release.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the established procedures for requesting and receiving Emergency Quota for ticket confirmation and any limitations that may apply.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for adhering to the established procedures for releasing Emergency Quota, handling requests, and addressing complaints.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and follow the existing guidelines for processing Emergency Quota requests and addressing concerns raised by Members of Parliament.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary government body responsible for the administration of railways and related policies, including the allocation of quotas.
Emergency Quota: A limited allocation of accommodation on trains earmarked for urgent travel needs, including High Official Requisition holders and Members of Parliament.
High Official Requisition (HOR): Category of individuals (Central Government Ministers, Judges of Supreme Court/High Courts, etc.) entitled to priority travel accommodations.
Members of Parliament: Elected representatives who may receive preferential treatment under the emergency quota for ticket confirmation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 828
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
ISSUANCE OF HEADQUARTERS QUOTA FOR TICKET CONFIRMATION
†828. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that in recent times the Ministry of Railways has not
been giving priority to special directives of distinguished persons/Members of
Parliament regarding the issuance of headquarters quota for ticket
confirmation;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of such directives received
and the quota issued during the last three months, zone-wise;
(c) whether any complaints have been received from distinguished/Members
of Parliament regarding deliberate preferential treatment or irregularities with
regard to their directives; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): In order to meet the urgent travel requirements of High Official
Requisition (HOR) holders (which includes Central Government Ministers,
Judges of Hon’ble Supreme Court/High Courts of various States), Members
of Parliament and other emergent demands, who are on the waiting list, a
limited accommodation is earmarked as Emergency Quota in different
trains and in different classes. The quota is released by the Railways in
accordance with the priority as per warrant of precedence and well-
established practice being followed since long.At the time of allotment of accommodation, emergency quota is first
allotted for self travel of HOR holders/Members of Parliament, etc., strictly
as per their inter-se seniority in warrant of precedence. Thereafter, other
requisitions received from various quarters including those from Members
of Parliament are considered and the remaining quota is released taking
into account various factors like official status of passengers travelling,
nature of urgency like travelling on government duty, bereavement in the
family, sickness, job interview, etc. Since a large number of requests are
received from various quarters at various levels and are dealt with on day
to day basis, details of requests received for release of accommodation out
of Emergency Quota including those from HOR holders/Hon’ble Members of
Parliament are only preserved as per extant guidelines.
Any complaint received from Hon’ble Members of Parliament regarding non
release of accommodation out of Emergency Quota is examined and if
required, suitable action as per extant guidelines is taken. Separate
statistics of such complaints is, however, not maintained.
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