The Supreme Court of India has stated that travel insurance offered to railway passengers should not be restricted only to those who book tickets online, and must also be made available to passengers purchasing tickets at reservation counters.
The observation was made by a Bench of Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan while considering an issue related to insurance coverage provided during train travel.
Currently, passengers who book tickets through the IRCTC website can opt for accident insurance by paying a small additional amount. However, a similar option is not available for individuals who buy their tickets directly from railway reservation counters.
The Bench remarked that such a distinction is difficult to justify, as the method of purchasing a ticket should not determine whether a passenger receives the benefit of travel insurance. The Court emphasised that passengers should not be deprived of insurance coverage merely because they did not book their tickets online.
During the hearing, concerns were raised about the possibility of misuse if the insurance facility were extended to counter ticket holders, particularly regarding verification of passenger identity. The Court, however, noted that such concerns cannot be used as a reason to deny the benefit altogether.
The judges suggested that the railway authorities could adopt technological measures at ticket counters to record passenger details and facilitate insurance coverage. According to the Court, once a ticket is issued, it becomes the responsibility of the railways to ensure appropriate systems are in place for passenger identification and claim processing.
The Court’s remarks highlight the need to ensure equal access to travel safety measures for all railway passengers, regardless of the mode used to purchase their tickets.