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Informist, Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court held that there cannot be a distinction in treatment of passengers with regard to the manner in which they buy railway tickets, and observed that travel insurance cannot be offered only to those booking tickets online and not to those buying physical tickets over the counter. Misuse of insurance is a concern that needs to be looked at, the court said, but a solution also must be worked out instead of denying the facility.

 

The argument for misuse of insurance cannot be made at the cost of depriving one segment of the public while the benefit is given to another segment, said the court. "When the railways sell tickets, it is their responsibility to take all the measures which are available today, especially in the modern era where the facility of advanced technology is available, through which identities can easily be fixed and noted and to put such a technology at use at ticket counters from where a common man buys ticket," said the bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan.

 

The top court was hearing a case regarding the safety of the railway system and passengers after concerns were raised in a railway accident compensation case. In a hearing last year, the top court had asked the government to explain why accident insurance cover was not provided to passengers purchasing tickets offline, and why a distinction has been made between the two modes of procurement of tickets.

 

The government said railways was still working out the modalities to ensure how passengers who buy physical tickets over the counter can be identified practically for purposes of issuing insurance certificates and settling claims. This was to ensure there is no misuse of insurance in the event of any mishap and the insurance company does not face any loss for false and frivolous claims, which the company may not be able to approve due to lack of any identification record of the person for whom the ticket or insurance has been purchased, the government said.

 

The top court observed that no special effort had been made by the railways for the safety of the railway system and to protect the interests of passengers. "We indicate here that on the next occasion, if we find that we are not being assisted in the manner required and proper facts and figures are not put forth, the court may have to take judicial notice and pass stringent orders..." said the bench.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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