Sundeep S/O Radhakrishna And Sasikala Badana v. Union Of India Thr. The Secretary, Ministry Of Railways, New Delhi And Another

1 PIL40-22.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 40/2022 (SUNDEEP RADHAKRISHNA @ SASIKALA BADANA VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ANOTHER) Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's order and Registrar's orders.

Petitioner in person.

CORAM : A. S. CHANDURKAR AND URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE , JJ.

D ATE : AUGUST 03 , 202 2 .

C.A.O. NO. 578/2022.

Since the petitioner in person seeks to place on record additional documents, the amendment is allowed. The same be carried out within a period of one week.

The civil application is disposed of.

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 40/2022.

The present proceedings filed in public interest seek restoration of various concessions that were admissible to passengers travelling by the railways prior to the pandemic.

According to the petitioner, initially 53 categories of passengers were entitled to concessions while travelling by railways. On 19.03.2020 in view of the pandemic situation with a view to discourage passengers from non-essential travel, the said concessions were reduced to 23 categories. According to the petitioner, with the easing of the pandemic situation, the concessions withdrawn by the railways ought to be restored. Representations in that regard have been made to the respondents. In the communication dated 22.09.2021 issued by the Deputy Director, Passenger Marketing-III on behalf of the Railway Board, the petitioner has been informed that Post-Covid, concessions are permissible only in Covid Special trains that were restored on regular time tabled trains. Prayer made is to withdraw the Circular dated 19.03.2020 and to restore the earlier concessions.

After the amendment granted as above is carried out, issue notice to the respondents returnable in four weeks.

2 PIL40-22.odt Learned Assistant Solicitor General of India Shri N.S. Deshpande waives service of notice for the respondents.

(URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.) (A. S. CHANDURKAR, J.) APTE byROHIT DATTATRAYA APTE