1 day ago
Supreme Court Pushes Railway Fare Relief For Acid Attack Survivors
The Supreme Court is considering cheaper train tickets for people who survived acid attacks.
Many survivors need to travel to hospitals with better treatment facilities.
The court wants the government to create a policy for these discounts.
The government has already agreed in principle to make such a policy.
It has discussed the draft with groups including Atijeevan Society.
The government wants survivors to receive the benefit as patients rather than under a separate disability category.
The court asked the Railway Ministry to be generous when deciding the concessions.
The case will be considered again after the draft policy is submitted.
The Supreme Court urged active disability-department involvement in drafting railway fare concessions for acid attack survivors.
The Centre has agreed in principle to create a policy after consulting stakeholders, including Atijeevan Society.
The court asked the Railways to take a liberal approach toward granting the concessions.
The Centre proposes placing survivors in the railway “patient category” rather than creating a disability category.
The court directed the draft policy to be submitted within six weeks and scheduled further consideration.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Centre, the Ministry of Railways, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and acid attack survivors.
- What
- The court is pursuing a policy for concessional railway fares for acid attack survivors traveling for treatment.
- Where
- The matter was heard by the Supreme Court in New Delhi.
- When
- The latest hearing was on Wednesday; earlier proceedings mentioned August 13 and July 16, with no year specified.
- Why
- Survivors may need to travel to well-equipped hospitals for treatment.
Broader fare relief
Government’s proposed framework
How survivors should qualify
Broader fare relief
The Supreme Court called for a liberal approach to railway concessions and active involvement from the disability department.
Government’s proposed framework
The Centre proposed extending the benefit through the existing “patient category.”
Disability classification
Broader fare relief
The court was asked to consider relief for acid attack survivors, while the disability department is to participate in finalizing the policy.
Government’s proposed framework
The Centre has reservations about placing acid attack survivors in a separate category among persons with disabilities.
Key facts
- Proposed benefit
- Concessional railway fares for acid attack survivors
- Travel purpose
- Seeking treatment at well-equipped hospitals
- Government position
- The Centre has agreed in principle to frame a policy
- Proposed classification
- The railway “patient category”
- Court direction
- The Railways should take a liberal approach to granting concessions
- Draft deadline
- The draft policy is to be placed on record within six weeks
- Petitioner
- Atijeevan Society
Quotes
Archana Pathak Dave
Additional Solicitor General representing the Centre
“I can inform them 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.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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