The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a close look at the Railways’ latest safety report and, in a packed courtroom that felt unusually tense for a miscellaneous matter, asked the government to return with a clearer, sharper plan. The bench-Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and K. Vinod Chandran-seemed particularly concerned about two specific safety issues and an odd disparity in insurance coverage between online and offline ticket buyers.
Background
The matter traces back to earlier appeals involving passenger safety responsibilities of the Union of India and the Railways. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee appeared for the Railways, while senior advocate Shikhil Suri assisted the court as amicus curiae.
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The Railways had submitted a fresh report outlining several ongoing safety initiatives. However, as soon as arguments began, it became apparent that the bench wasn’t fully convinced by its prioritisation-and especially its lack of timelines.
Court’s Observations
The discussion took a turn when the ASG clarified that the highlighted issues in the report “should not be mistaken as Railways’ priority list” but were merely points the department wished to bring to the court’s notice.This didn’t cut much ice with the judges.
The bench observed, “At the initial stage, the focus should be on the safety of the tracks and railway crossings, from which other aspects would emerge.”
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One moment that caught everyone’s attention was when the amicus pointed out that passengers who buy tickets online get accident insurance but those buying from offline counters do not. Several heads in the courtroom turned-this was news even for some lawyers present.
Justice Amanullah looked visibly surprised. The bench remarked that such a distinction “needs a clear explanation,” directing the ASG to take instructions and report back.
Another pointed remark from the judges: the Railways’ report mentioned proposals but no concrete timeline for any of them. As one judge put it informally, “If you propose, then you must also commit to when you’ll begin implementing it.”
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Decision
In the end, the Supreme Court instructed the Railways to file a better, more focused affidavit, concentrating specifically on:
- Issue No. 3 and Issue No. 7 from the earlier report (both related to safety at tracks and railway crossings), and
- The reason behind the online–offline insurance gap for passengers.
The bench allowed the Railways to continue with other improvement plans but clearly signalled that these three concerns cannot wait.
The matter will now be taken up again on 13 January 2026, with the same position in the cause list, giving the Railways just a few weeks to produce a more satisfactory response.
Case Title: Union of India vs. Radha Yadav
Case No.: MA Nos. 741–742/2019 in C.A. Nos. 1265–1266/2019; MA Nos. 743–744/2019 in C.A. Nos. 1267–1268/2019
Case Type: Miscellaneous Application in Civil Appeals
Decision Date: 25 November 2025
