In response to a devastating stampede at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) that claimed 18 lives, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked pointed questions about the Railways’ ticketing and passenger management policies. The inquiry follows a public interest litigation (PIL) addressing the February 15 tragedy, demanding stringent adherence to legal provisions on passenger limits and platform ticket sales.
The High Court’s directive seeks an immediate review and remedial action by the Railway Board, as stated during the proceedings. “Let the issues raised in the petition be examined, as suggested by the Solicitor General, at the highest level at the Railway Board and thereafter, an affidavit be filed by the respondent giving details of the decisions which might be taken,” ordered the bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.
Sections 57 and 147 of the Railways Act, which regulate the maximum number of passengers per compartment and the sale of platform tickets, were highlighted as not being fully enforced. The court emphasized the potential for preventing such incidents through proper implementation of these sections.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Railways, described the situation on the night of the stampede as ‘unprecedented’ and assured that the issues raised would be “considered at the highest level.”
The court critically noted the discrepancy between the number of passengers a coach can accommodate and the number of tickets sold. “If you (Railways) fix the number of passengers to be accommodated in a coach, then why do you sell, why the number of tickets sold exceed that number? That is a problem,” the court stated, reflecting concerns over Railways’ ticketing practices.
The bench also touched on the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, which has significantly increased rail traffic, often resulting in overpacked trains and heightened safety risks at stations. Reports of passengers unable to board trains due to overcrowding and subsequent vandalism were also discussed.
