SC Pushes Centre for Railway Travel Concessions for Acid Attack Survivors

The Centre has agreed in principle to formulate a policy providing railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors, enabling them to travel to specialised hospitals in major cities for periodic treatment. The development was conveyed to the Supreme Court on Thursday during the hearing of a public interest litigation seeking travel benefits for survivors.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, took note of the Centre’s position and directed Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave to place the draft policy on record within six weeks. The court also asked the government to consider the issue “liberally” and ensure that relief is provided within a time-bound framework.

The Railways has proposed extending the concession under the “patient category”, rather than creating a separate concession under the category of persons with disabilities (PwDs). The Centre said it had reservations about creating a separate benefit for acid attack survivors within the PwD category, as railway concessions are not uniformly available to all persons with disabilities.

The court, however, observed that acid attack survivors are recognised within the disability framework and asked the Centre to explore whether they could be treated similarly to patients suffering from conditions such as cancer and thalassemia for travel concession purposes.

The PIL was filed by Atijeevan Society, which highlighted the frequent medical travel required by survivors. Counsel submitted that many survivors undergo repeated reconstructive surgeries, advanced eye procedures and prolonged post-operative care, often available only at specialised hospitals in metropolitan cities.

The petition also pointed to difficulties in obtaining medical certificates and accessing existing railway reservation facilities. Survivors often require AC coaches because of burn-related complications and post-surgical conditions, but repeated travel can impose a significant financial burden.

The Supreme Court had earlier sought the Centre’s response on providing concessional AC rail fares and a separate reservation quota for acid attack survivors. The matter will now be considered after the proposed policy is placed before the court.