A bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan issued the order on October 6. The bench observed that no concrete steps had been taken so far to extend insurance coverage to counter-ticket passengers, particularly those from economically weaker sections.
The court made it clear that the facility must become available from October 27. It warned that any failure to implement the decision by the specified date would attract direct responsibility on the part of the Railway Board.
Currently, passengers booking tickets online through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) are offered the option of purchasing travel insurance. The premium is just 45 paise (Rs 0.45), and the policy provides compensation of up to Rs 10 lakh in the event of death or permanent total disability caused by a railway accident.
However, the Supreme Court's order does not specify the premium amount or the coverage available to passengers purchasing tickets at railway counters. Railways will have to clarify these details separately.
According to observers, the decision could benefit crores of ordinary passengers travelling by train. They have also stressed that Railways must clearly display complete insurance information on counter tickets and provide transparent details of the coverage so that families affected by accidents can file claims without difficulty.
Supreme Court Rebukes Railways Over Passenger Safety
Alongside its directions on travel insurance, the Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over what it described as Railways' inadequate approach to passenger safety. The bench observed that assurances given by railway officials had remained confined to paper, with no significant improvement visible on the ground.
The court also raised concerns over the failure to fully utilise funds allocated for preventing accidents and strengthening railway safety. In addition, the work of installing fencing along railway tracks has reportedly fallen short of the annual targets by approximately one-third.
Warning of possible consequences, the court said it could consider whether the existing Railway Board should be allowed to continue in office if safety standards were not improved promptly.
Initially, the court had directed the Railway Board Chairman and its members to appear personally before it on November 16, 2026. However, after the Additional Solicitor General sought more time, the direction requiring their personal appearance has been kept in abeyance for the time being.
The October 27 deadline for extending travel insurance to counter-ticket passengers, together with the court's concerns over safety funding and trackside fencing, places the focus on Railways' compliance with judicial directions and its efforts to improve passenger protection.
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