The Bombay High Court has criticized the Indian Railways for its inadequate safety measures on Mumbai’s suburban railway network, comparing the treatment of passengers to that of cattle. The court, presided over by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, made these remarks during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing the alarmingly high number of fatalities on local trains.
Expressing deep concern, Chief Justice Upadhyaya stated, “I feel ashamed. The manner in which passengers in local trains are made to commute is unacceptable.” The PIL highlighted that Mumbai’s suburban railway system, the second busiest globally after Tokyo, witnesses over 2,000 deaths annually, with a distressing fatality rate of 33.8%. This grim statistic underscores the urgent need for robust safety improvements. The court lambasted the Railways for categorizing deaths due to track crossings, falling from trains, or slipping between platform-train gaps as “untoward incidents,” implying a lack of accountability on their part. Advocates representing the petitioner, Yatin Jadhav, argued passionately for stricter safety protocols, citing instances of overcrowding and accidents that resemble stampedes during rush hours. Responding to these concerns, Western Railway’s advocate, Suresh Kumar, acknowledged compliance with previous court directives since 2008 but faced pointed questions from the bench regarding the effectiveness of these measures in preventing accidents. The judges emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in the Railways’ approach towards passenger safety, stressing that the current situation is untenable and demands immediate rectification.
In its directive, the High Court instructed the general managers of Western Railway and Central Railway to submit detailed affidavits outlining concrete measures to mitigate accidents. Furthermore, the court hinted at the possibility of forming a committee of experts to study the systemic challenges and propose comprehensive solutions to reduce fatalities effectively. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s intent to hold railway officials accountable for ensuring passenger safety, urging a paradigm shift towards humane transportation practices. As Mumbai’s local train network continues to grapple with safety deficiencies, stakeholders await decisive action from authorities to overhaul existing infrastructure and operational protocols.
