HC pulls up railways, seeks response over rising mishaps

The Delhi high court has sought the response of the railway ministry on a PIL about lack of initiative, like installation of interlocking systems, to prevent accidents.

The Delhi high court has sought the response of the railway ministry on a PIL about lack of initiative, like installation of interlocking systems, to prevent accidents.

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A bench of chief justice Dipak Misra and justice Sanjiv Khanna asked the railways to file its response by September 28 as to what steps were being taken to prevent accidents. In his petition, lawyer Sugriva Dubey said railway wasn't doing anything to prevent accidents.

“Most of the accidents are attributable to human failure. It can be prevented by introduction of modern technologies and devices and mechanisation of maintenance, timely replacement of over-aged assets and adoption of suitable technologies,” said Dubey's PIL.

The PIL also demanded an upgrade and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.

Dubey wanted the court to issue a direction to the railways to depute guards at unmanned railway crossings to avoid accidents, to provide security to the passengers in the train so that they do not face any kind of menace from the anti-socials.

The PIL also complained that there was no proper system to unload luggage which is booked in the luggage wagon of the railways as a result of which people who book their luggage in luggage van face difficulty.