The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a directive to the Union Government to ensure the “highest standards” of safety & security at all railway stations nationwide.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banerjee disposed of PIL moved by one Kush Kalra who raised concerns regarding safety measures at railway stations in the country.
The PIL highlighted the absence of anti-collision and alcohol-checking devices, emergency telephones, CCTV cameras, metal detector doors, and handheld metal detectors.
The court considered the affidavits submitted by the Union Government, acknowledging the installation of safety measures such as CCTV cameras, luggage scanning devices, door frame metal detectors, handheld metal detectors, body cameras, and sniffer and tracker dogs to ensure passengers’ safety and security.
The court stated, “…the Respondents shall ensure that there is a periodic audit in respect of the safety and security measures in the Indian Railways and after conducting periodic audit and assessing the situation, the Government of India shall ensure maintenance of highest standards of safety and security at Railway Stations all over the country.”
Emphasizing the paramount importance of passengers’ safety and security, the court acknowledged that the Railways have been taking necessary precautions to prevent any breach in these aspects.
Further, the court stated, “Therefore, in light of the affidavits filed by the Union of India, nothing more is required and, thus, the present PIL stands disposed of.”
