REKHA BHASIN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) [Ed. facts. Indian Rlys. had a system of granting passes to its employees for free travel with some limitations. A practice had grown of kingly power of Rly. Minister and his Deputy Minister of giving free passes to anyone they liked and this discretion was being widely abused. Also in 1997, two Memos were issued allowing members of Rly. Board, serving or retired to free passes in ACC for any place without any limitation. Petitioner challenged these as unconstitutional. She also prayed for direction for better facilities to ordinary passengers. In the reply, Govt. enumrated several steps at had taken for improvement of services. The Court and petitioner were satisfied.] After detailing above, Judgement proceeds:

(2.) The network of the Indian Railways is perhaps the largest in the world. Majority of our countrymen depend on Railways for their transportation. The urgency and need of implementing the recommendations of the high-level committee appointed by the Ministry of Railways at the instance of this court, can hardly be over-emphasized. The recommendation must be implemented as early as possible. It is also imperative to supervise and oversee the implementation of these recommendations. There should be a continuous process of improving the system looking to the larger public interest because Railways is the principal mode of transportation of passengers and goods in this country.

(3.) The other grievance of the petitioner is regarding the bonanza to the serving and retired members of the Board by introducing platinum passes. By the orders dated 30.4.1997 and 3.6.1997 passed by the Railway Board, it has been decided that serving members of Railway Board travelling alone or accompanied by eligible members of their families may travel any number of times on the authority of platinum pass in any class in all trains including Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains, subject to some conditions.