The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Indian Railways to address concerns regarding the sale of platform tickets and the maximum number of passengers allowed in train coaches. The directive came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed after the February 15 stampede at New Delhi Railway Station.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasized that the PIL was not limited to the recent incident but sought proper implementation of existing legal provisions under Sections 57 and 147 of the Railways Act. While Section 57 mandates fixing a maximum passenger limit in compartments, Section 147 requires individuals without valid reservations to purchase platform tickets for station entry.
“Let the issues raised in the petition be examined at the highest level at the Railway Board, and an affidavit be filed detailing the decisions taken,” the court ordered.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Railways, acknowledged the “unprecedented” situation on the night of the stampede and assured the court that the concerns raised in the PIL would be “considered at the highest level.”
The court also noted, “If the legal provisions were perhaps implemented adequately, such incidents of stampede could be avoided.”
The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on March 26.