Supreme Court Criticizes Railways Over Safety Funding and Insurance Disparity for Counter Tickets Passengers

The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure at the Railways for failing to clearly explain its budgetary allocations and safety priorities.

The Bench noted that affidavits filed by the Union were indecipherable and seemed to prioritize "the privileged few" over the common man.

The Court specifically flagged the disparity in travel insurance, which is available for online bookings but not for counter tickets, demanding that technology be used to bridge this gap.

Warning of stringent directions if clear data is not provided, the Court granted time for a comprehensive affidavit before the next hearing on April 1, 2026.

[UOI v. Radha Yadav]