Key Supreme Court Directives to the Railway Department

The Supreme Court has directed the Railways to extend additional insurance coverage to passengers purchasing tickets at railway counters, just as it does for those booking tickets online. The court ordered the measure to be implemented from the 27th of this month and warned that the Railway Board would be held responsible for non-compliance. The directions were issued by a bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan while hearing a case concerning railway safety and the prevention of untoward incidents during travel. Amicus curiae and senior advocate Shikile Suri informed the court that the Railways had failed to act despite receiving several earlier directions and sufficient time.

The court also questioned Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee about the unequal treatment of passengers booking tickets online and offline. Separately, it expressed serious dissatisfaction with railway safety standards and the failure to implement assurances made earlier. The Railway Board was asked to explain why it had not met its targets for installing fencing along railway tracks and why it was falling short of the annual target by one-third. The court sought an explanation for the delays in carrying out these safety measures.