In a major relief for railway passengers ahead of Diwali, the Supreme Court has directed Indian Railways to extend insurance coverage available for online ticket bookings to tickets purchased at railway reservation counters.
According to a report by LiveLaw, the Railways has been directed to implement the system by October 27, ensuring that passengers buying tickets offline receive the same insurance benefits as those booking online.
Currently, passengers booking tickets online can opt for travel insurance by paying a small additional amount. However, passengers purchasing tickets at reservation counters have not had access to the same facility. The new directive aims to remove this disparity and extend the benefit to counter-booked tickets.
System to Be Implemented by October 27
A bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan issued the directive while hearing a case related to railway passenger safety and the prevention of train accidents.
The court had previously given railway officials time to develop a mechanism for extending insurance coverage to counter-booked tickets. During the October 6 hearing, however, it expressed displeasure over the lack of progress and ordered the Railways to complete the necessary arrangements by October 27.
Supreme Court Questions Disparity in Insurance Coverage
Senior Advocate Shikhil Suri, acting as amicus curiae in the case, raised concerns about the difference in insurance facilities available to online and offline ticket buyers.
The court questioned Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee about why passengers purchasing tickets at railway counters were being treated differently from those booking online.
It also criticised railway officials for giving assurances without demonstrating sufficient progress on the ground. The court expressed concern over the utilisation of funds allocated for railway safety and stressed the importance of taking concrete measures to protect passengers.
Railway Board Officials Warned of Accountability
The Supreme Court has directed the Chairman and members of the Railway Board to appear in person on November 16 at 3 pm. It has warned that failure to implement the order within the stipulated deadline could result in personal accountability for the officials concerned.
The directive is expected to benefit millions of passengers who prefer purchasing railway tickets at reservation counters, particularly those who do not use online booking platforms.