The Bombay high court on Tuesday directed the railways to reconsider its decision of not providing a separate compartment for senior citizens in suburban railways.
A division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice AS Gadkari said: "If there is a desire it can be done and there may be several options. A small compartment can be allotted as you have done it for ladies first-class compartment."
The observation was made during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed after the court had taken suo motu cognisance of a letter written by a senior citizen, AB Thakkar, in 2009. Thakkar had said that entering jam-packed trains during peak hours was a nightmarish experience for senior citizens.
The Western Railway (WR) had earlier informed the court that it was not practical to have a separate compartment for senior citizens or reserve seats for this category in suburban trains. The affidavit filed by WR divisional commercial manager Ashok Tiwari stated that "if a compartment is earmarked for senior citizens, the space for general second-class passengers would be curtailed, resulting in excessive crowding and accidents".
Additional solicitor general Anil Singh informed the court that "regular meetings are being organised to resolve this issue. The court's concern is right and we (railways) have to look into it". The bench replied by saying that "it is an obligation on the railways to ensure certain reservations are made for senior citizens". Accordingly, the court directed the railways to reconsider its decision and inform the court on the next date of hearing in January.
The railways have reasoned that it cannot provide separate compartments because "despite introducing additional services and augmenting rakes from 9 to 12, the crowd during peak hours has not come down, and is still approximately in the 400/per coach range". Besides, cancer patients and the disabled have 19 seats and additional free space for movement reserved in a compartment, it says. Earlier, request made to the Railway Board was turned down.
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