Travel insurance mandatory for all train tickets from Oct 27: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court ordered Indian Railways to provide insurance coverage for tickets purchased at the railway reservation counters within two weeks, effective October 27. It said the insurance coverage should be the same as when tickets are purchased online.

A bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddhin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan passed this order while hearing a matter pertaining to the safety of the common man and prevention of untoward incidents while travelling in trains. One of the issues raised in this case was the insurance coverage, which is currently available only to those who purchase their railway tickets online by paying a nominal additional amount.

In earlier proceedings, the bench had given time to the Indian Railway authorities to devise a mechanism for extending such coverage to those purchasing tickets offline, including persons belonging to the lowest strata of society. However, when the matter was taken up for hearing on October 6, the bench noted that there has been no progress and deemed it fit to pass the present direction.

The bench recorded its "utter disappointment" and "displeasure" at the conduct of Railway officers for not taking this case seriously and only offering assurances on paper. The Court noted that budgetary provisions for the areas targeted by the amicus remain underutilised.

"The Court records its utter disappointment and displeasure at the conduct of the officers of the Ministry of Railways in such a serious matter concerning the safety of the common man.

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