New Delhi: The Delhi High Court requested a response from the Railways concerning a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that claimed 18 lives. The PIL asserts that the stampede on Platform No. 16 was triggered by overcrowding, resulting from several long-distance trains arriving and departing at the same time on the Delhi-Prayagraj route during the Mahakumbh festival. It contends that this incident reflects administrative negligence and infringes on the fundamental right to life as per Article 21 of the Constitution.
Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who are hearing the case, instructed the Railway Board to investigate the situation and submit a brief affidavit outlining the actions to be taken. The next hearing is scheduled for March 26. The court noted that the PIL raises significant concerns regarding the ineffective enforcement of regulations in the Railways Act, specifically Sections 57 and 147.
Section 57 mandates that every railway station must restrict the number of passengers allowed in each compartment. These stipulations carry penalties for non-compliance. The petition underscores the urgent need to enforce these sections properly. The Solicitor General, representing the Railways, indicated that the administration does not view this as adversarial litigation and will address the concerns raised at the highest levels of the Railways Board. The petition, filed by the lawyers and entrepreneurs group Arth Vidhi through Advocates Aditya Trivedi and Shubhi Pastor, claims that the Railways have failed to uphold their obligations under Sections 57 and 147 of the Railways Act, 1989. Section 57 requires the railway administration to set maximum passenger limits in each compartment, while Section 147 mandates platform tickets for entry at railway stations without valid reservations. The petition emphasizes that, especially during the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, these rules should have been strictly implemented, and it highlights that these regulations are often overlooked, resulting in overcrowded trains and platforms.