Bombay High Court slams Railways over women's safety

Bombay High Court slammed Railways on Friday saying "women do t feel assured that y are safe in compartments reserved only for m", and directed national transporter to file a comprehensive action-taken report on issue by December 12.

A division bench of Justice S C Dharmhikari and Justice R I Chagla said Mumbai is considered commercial capital of country, but still women don't feel safe while travelling in trains.

bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2012 on issue of women's safety in trains and also vacancies in Railway Protection Force (RPF).

"When a woman travels, all that she wants is safe travel...wher it is late in night or as early as five in morning. Till date, women do t feel assured that y are safe in compartments reserved only for m and hence during odd hours women prefer to travel in common coach," Justice Dharmhikari said.

" petition was filed in 2012. We are w almost in 2020 and till date, we don't think much has changed. This is great disappointment...a very sorry condition. Umpteen cases are still lodged each day," bench observed.

It directed Central and Western Railway authorities to file a comprehensive action-taken report on issue by December 12.

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court sought to kw from Railways if it h conducted any survey among women travellers to gauge problems y face during ir travel.

"Ask se women how protected y feel in trains. Women from each strata of society take trains day in and day out. Educated women are at least aware eugh to fight and get cases lodged but what about those who do t kw how to handle such situations," Justice Dharmhikari said.

When Western Railway's lawyer Suresh Kumar pointed out that RPF constables travel in lies coaches during late night and early morning hours, court said RPF officials must be boarding compartment from one side and getting off or side.

"How do you monitor if se RPF constables travel in compartment from start to end?" court asked and ded that RPF official should be allowed to use ir mobile phones while on duty.

" seniors would be doing a great service if y take away mobile phones of RPF officials who are on duty on platforms and in trains. Why are y t pulled up for negligence or dereliction of duty?" court asked and went on to say that drunkards, drug dicts and jobless youth brazenly get into lies compartments.

"This menace needs to be curbed by Railways, provided y see it as a menace," Justice Dharmhikari said.

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