2 weeks ago
Centre agrees to grant railway concessions for acid attack survivors
Some people are badly hurt by acid attacks and need many operations and treatments.
To get this treatment, they have to travel to big city hospitals far away.
Air-conditioned trains are comfortable for their injuries after surgery, but the tickets are very expensive.
Many survivors cannot afford to pay for such trips again and again.
The government of India has now agreed to make train travel cheaper for them.
The highest court in India heard about this plan, and the judges were happy about it.
The judges asked the government to finish the plan within six weeks.
A group called Atijeevan Society wants survivors to also get special train seats and cheaper AC tickets.
With these concessions, survivors can reach hospitals for treatment without worrying about the ticket cost.
The Centre told the Supreme Court it has agreed in principle to formulate a policy granting railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors.
Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave said the benefit would be extended under the "patient category", not as a separate category among persons with disabilities.
The bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed the Centre to file the draft policy within six weeks and asked it to consider the concessions "liberally" and in a time-bound manner.
The court suggested including acid attack victims in the same patient category as thalassemia and cancer patients so they could avail rail fare concessions for treatment.
PIL petitioner Atijeevan Society said survivors need four to five years of treatment at super-speciality hospitals, cannot afford frequent AC coach travel, and face difficulty obtaining medical certificates.
- Who
- The Centre (Ministry of Railways), represented by Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, and the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana; PIL petitioner Atijeevan Society sought the relief.
- What
- The Centre agreed in principle to formulate a policy granting railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors, and the Supreme Court directed that the draft policy be filed within six weeks.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
- When
- Thursday, August 13; the court had earlier sought the Centre's views on the plea on July 16.
- Why
- To enable acid attack survivors to travel affordably to well-equipped hospitals in cities for periodic treatment, including in air-conditioned coaches, over a treatment period of about four to five years.
Petitioners' demand
Centre's approach
Category for concessions
Petitioners' demand
Acid attack survivors should be included in the PwD category with a separate reservation quota and concessional fares, since under the existing framework they can neither avail the PwD quota nor the concessional fare facility.
Centre's approach
Survivors should get concessions under the patient category, because the Railways does not give concessions to all disabled persons and cannot differentiate amongst them without other disabled groups demanding the same.
Breadth and timing of relief
Petitioners' demand
The court asked the Centre to consider the concession "liberally" and said the relief should be given in a time-bound manner.
Centre's approach
The Railways said it is still deliberating how and how much concession would be given under the patient category and sought more time to work out the modalities.
Key facts
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Government position
- Agreed in principle to grant railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors
- Proposed category
- "Patient category", alongside thalassemia and cancer patients
- Reason for patient category
- Railways does not give concessions to all disabled persons and cannot differentiate among them
- Deadline
- Draft policy to be filed within six weeks
- PIL petitioner
- Atijeevan Society
- Earlier hearing
- July 16 - court sought Centre's views on concessional air-conditioned rail fare plea
Quotes
Representative of Atijeevan Society
PIL petitioner representing acid attack survivors
“Due to the nature of the burn injuries, persistent itching, and especially after undergoing surgery, acid attack survivors often need to travel by train in AC coaches. However, they cannot afford the high cost of AC tickets for frequent travels and due to the existing framework, they can neither avail themselves of the earmarked quota otherwise available to PwDs nor the concessional railway fare facility.”
deccanchronicle.com
“I can inform that they will put the acid attack victims in the patient category… because they have some reservations about putting them under the disabled category as others in that disabled category are not given railway concessions.”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Related news
Indian Railways allows UDID card holders on local trains
Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s View on Banning Acid Sales
Railways Ordered to Pay ₹75,000 Over Crowded Reserved Berths
Specially-Abled Passenger Dies After Alleged Push From Mumbai Local
Kerala High Court Upholds Removal of Intoxicated Train Passengers
Shinde Sena Challenges Shiv Sena’s 2018 Power Shift
Supreme Court Questions BCI Chairman’s Proposed Five-Year Tenure
BJP MPs Seek National Commission for General Category Interests
PUCL Urges CJI Action Over Rajasthan High Court Allegations
Supreme Court Questions IPS Deputation for CAPF Leadership Positions