Supreme Court Questions Why Accident Insurance Is Limited Only to Online Ticket Buyers

The Supreme Court has questioned Indian Railways’ policy of offering accidental insurance only to passengers who book tickets online, leaving offline counter-ticket buyers without any coverage.

During the hearing, a bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and K. Vinod Chandran noted concerns flagged by the amicus curiae, who highlighted the unequal treatment despite identical travel risks.

The court asked the Railways, represented by ASG Vikramjit Banerjee, to clarify why such a distinction exists. This issue is part of a larger review of railway safety and infrastructure.

The Railways has been directed to submit its response, with the matter listed for January 13.