In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has held that the term “second class passenger” is unconstitutional and directed Indian Railways to refer only to the coach or compartment category, not the passenger.
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotishwar Singh observed that describing a person as a “second class passenger” is inappropriate in light of India’s history of social divisions. The court said passengers should not be classified based on the fare they pay, but only by the type of coach in which they travel.
The Supreme Court directed that railway documents and records should use terms such as second-class coach or sleeper coach, instead of referring to a person as a “second class passenger.”
The court also stressed the need to strengthen railway safety and passenger services by increasing staff strength. It observed that recruiting more employees at railway stations and on trains would improve passenger safety, enhance services and create employment opportunities for young people.