The Bombay high court on Thursday ruled that ultimately the railways will have to provide for emergency medical facilities at all suburban railway stations. It also disallowed the railways' current stand about medical services being provided only at those stations where high number of accidents occur.
The Bombay high court on Thursday ruled that ultimately the railways will have to provide for emergency medical facilities at all suburban railway stations. It also disallowed the railways' current stand about medical services being provided only at those stations where high number of accidents occur.
A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and AK Menon said: "Someday, the railways will have to accept responsibility. There is no option but to provide medical facilities."
The bench also directed the state to ensure that only properly trained medical professionals are posted at the ambulances stationed at each of the 46 railway stations. Advocate general Sunil Manohar assured the court that notices will be issued to contractors of the ambulances to ensure the same.
Manohar also clarified that only doctors with BAMS degrees and those who complete the mandatory six-month training course will be deployed. However, the state will ensure that the training is done at government centres.
The court gave the directives while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Sameer Zaveri, raising the issue of safety of suburban railway passengers.
The railway administration came out with a proposal to make Dadar station a model, with regards to providing emergency medical services and setting up a medical centre at the terminus.
However, the administration later took a stand that the medical centre remained almost un-utilised and therefore, it was not feasible to set up such centres at other suburban stations.
'Ramps for physically disabled'
While hearing another PIL seeking directives to the railways to set up facilities for the disabled, the high court suggested to the railways to ensure ramps are made at all suburban stations, so that the physically disabled can easily enter and exit the stations on wheelchairs.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}