Supreme Court Directs Indian Railways to Prioritize Safety and Address Insurance Disparity

Supreme Court mandates immediate focus on track and crossing safety, seeks resolution on insurance coverage differences for ticket buyers.

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has directed Indian Railways to prioritize the safety of railway tracks and crossings, emphasizing these as initial focal points for operational improvements. The order came during the hearing of the case "Union of India v. Radha Yadav," presided over by Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and K. Vinod Chandran.

The court reviewed a report submitted by Indian Railways outlining various issues, but noticed a lack of clear timelines for addressing them. The Supreme Court has mandated the Railways to submit a more detailed affidavit specifically addressing the issues flagged in items 3 and 7 of their report. This directive underscores the court's insistence on immediate attention to safety concerns that have been highlighted as critical.

Additionally, the court took note of the disparity in insurance coverage provided to passengers purchasing tickets online versus those buying offline. Currently, only online ticket purchasers receive insurance coverage for accidents, leaving offline purchasers without similar protection. The court has instructed Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, the Additional Solicitor General representing the Railways, to provide a rationale for this disparity and to work towards a resolution.

Justice Amanullah emphasized that while the Railways continues its broader improvement plans, the immediate focus should be on these specific safety and insurance issues. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing on January 13, 2026, by which time the Railways is expected to have submitted the required affidavits and reports addressing the court's concerns.

This decision marks a significant intervention by the judiciary to ensure passenger safety and equitable treatment in insurance coverage, reflecting a growing judicial oversight in administrative affairs concerning public safety.

Bottom Line:

Railways directed to focus on safety issues concerning tracks and railway crossings as a priority, with a better affidavit to be filed on specific flagged issues. Disparity in insurance coverage for online and offline ticket purchasers to be addressed.

Statutory provision(s): None explicitly mentioned in the judgment.

Union of India v. Radha Yadav, (SC) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2813616