Bombay High Court Slams Railways Over Commuter Deaths: “Ashamed to See People Travel Like Cattle”

Keywords: Bombay High Court, Mumbai local trains, commuter safety, public interest litigation, railway accountability

On Wednesday, the High Court of Bombay expressed deep shame and concern over the dire conditions faced by commuters on Mumbai’s local trains, referring to the situation as being akin to “traveling like cattle.” The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the rising number of commuter deaths due to overcrowded trains and accidents on the tracks.

Court’s Strong Rebuke

A division bench consisting of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar labeled the issue as “very very serious” and emphasized the need for immediate action. The court declared it would hold top officials of both the Central and Western Railways accountable for the “pathetic” state of affairs in Mumbai.

“You carry people like cattle. We feel ashamed at the manner in which commuters are made to commute,” the bench remarked, urging railway authorities to take decisive action rather than making excuses about the city’s large population.

Specific Directives and Future Hearings

The PIL was filed by Yatin Jadhav, highlighting the alarming statistic that 2,590 commuters lost their lives on the tracks in 2023, averaging seven deaths per day, with an additional 2,441 persons injured during the same period. The Central Railway route accounted for 1,650 deaths, while the Western Railway saw 940 fatalities.

In response, the High Court directed the general managers (GMs) of both the Western and Central Railways to thoroughly examine the issue and submit affidavits detailing the current measures in place to prevent such mishaps. These affidavits are to be “personally vetted” by the GMs and must outline the effectiveness of these measures in reducing commuter deaths.

Measures Undertaken by Western Railway

Advocate Suresh Kumar, representing the Western Railway, informed the court of several measures being implemented, including the installation of barricades between tracks and the construction of multiple foot-over-bridges at each station. Kumar also noted that the Western Railway operates trains at the highest possible frequency, with services every 2-3 minutes during peak hours.

However, the bench questioned the effectiveness of these measures, asking whether they had resulted in a tangible reduction in deaths. “Have you been able to reduce or stop deaths?” the bench inquired, highlighting the necessity of finding a lasting solution to this crisis.

Looking Ahead

The court made it clear that it would hold the highest-level officers accountable for the ongoing issues and stressed that merely following court directions is not enough. A robust and effective plan must be in place to safeguard commuters’ lives.

The High Court scheduled the next hearing for the PIL in eight weeks, giving the railway authorities time to prepare and present their responses.

For ongoing updates and detailed coverage of financial market trends, visit Kanishk Social Media. If you found this article informative, please share it with others who may benefit from understanding the dynamics of legislative functions and the role of opposition in a democracy.