The Bombay high court, on Monday, severely criticised the railways for being insensitive in its approach to setting up emergency medical centres in suburban stations to provide immediate assistance to accident victims despite specific court orders to the effect.
A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Ajey Gadkari said: "Not only have you taken a stand contrary to earlier court orders, you have shown complete lack of sensitivity too."
The bench was irate after railways had informed it that it was not feasible to set up emergency medical centres in stations. The court had in 2011 passed an order specifying the need for such centres, something which it felt would go a long way in preventing the high number of casualties on suburban tracks.
Counsel for railways Suresh Kumar in turn informed the court that an ambulance with a doctor was being stationed outside every suburban railway station and as such a patient could be taken to the nearest hospital immediately in case of an accident.
The bench then sought to know if an ambulance could move fast during rush hours. "Ask your officers to check how much time a vehicle would take to reach Rajawadi Hospital from Ghatkopar station or from Thane station to the civil hospital during rush hour."
The court which adjourned the hearing to November 10, said: "You have brazenly taken a decision not to set up emergency medical centres in suburban stations."
It granted the railway administration time till November 10 to state if the railways was on its own willing to set up medical centres or whether it would have to pass an order to that effect.
The court directive came during the hearing of a PIL filed by activist Sameer Zaveri raising the issue of safety of suburban passengers. The railway administration had come up with a proposal to make Dadar station a model in providing emergency services by setting up a medical centre at the terminus. However, it later took an about-turn saying the medical centre remained almost underutilised and hence it would not be feasible to set up such centres in other suburban stations.
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