SC Orders Insurance For All Counter-Sold Railway Tickets, Warns Railway Board Over Safety Failures

The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure regarding the Ministry of Railways' failure to implement critical safety measures on the ground despite adequate budgetary provisions.

A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said the Railways had repeatedly assured the Court that necessary steps were being taken, but the assurances had largely remained on paper. The Bench particularly flagged the failure to meet targets for fencing railway tracks and to extend insurance coverage to passengers purchasing tickets from railway reservation counters.

The Bench said it was “utterly” disappointed by the conduct of Railway officials in a matter concerning the safety of the common man. It noted that even the budgetary provisions made for targeted safety measures and prevention of untoward incidents had not been fully utilised.

Court said there appeared to be “hardly any progress” on the ground and directed the Chairman and members of the Railway Board to remain personally present on November 16, 2026.

However, after Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee sought one final opportunity to file a detailed compliance affidavit, the direction requiring their physical appearance was kept in abeyance.

The ASG told the Court that the Railways would file a categorical affidavit setting out the actual work carried out during the last one year, the reasons for failing to achieve the prescribed targets, particularly for fencing, and the steps proposed to ensure that the targets are achieved.

The Bench said the affidavit should explain the shortfall in achieving the targets for fencing railway tracks, which it described as a basic safety requirement.

Court also warned that if it found no substantial improvement on the ground by the next hearing, it may consider whether the Railway Board, in its present composition, should be permitted to continue in office.

Insurance for counter-sold railway tickets

The Bench also expressed concern over the lack of insurance coverage for passengers who purchase tickets from railway reservation counters.

It noted that at present, passengers purchasing tickets online can opt for insurance coverage by paying a nominal additional amount. However, those belonging to the economically weaker sections, who often purchase tickets from railway reservation counters, were yet to receive similar coverage.

Court said it had already given sufficient time to the authorities to devise a mechanism for extending the benefit to such passengers, but no progress had been made.

It therefore directed that all tickets sold over the counter at railway stations must also be covered by insurance in the same manner as tickets purchased online, with effect from October 27, 2026.

The Bench said the direction would be mandatory and warned that failure to implement it would make the Railway Board directly responsible.

Shortfall in track-fencing targets

The Bench also directed that the Chairman and members of the Railway Board be prepared to explain why there had been a shortfall of “almost one-third every year” in achieving the targets for fencing railway tracks.

Court said the issue was particularly concerning because budgetary provisions had been made for basic safety requirements, yet those provisions had remained substantially unimplemented.

The Bench initially directed the Chairman and members to appear personally before it on November 16 and said no exemption would be entertained.

After the ASG sought one final opportunity to place the actual ground position before the Court through a compliance affidavit, the Bench kept the physical appearance direction in abeyance for the present.

The matter was heard by the Bench in the presence of ASG Banerjee and amicus curiae senior advocate Sikhil Suri.

Case Title: Union of India Vs Radha Yadav 

Bench: Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan 

Date of Judgment: October 06, 2026