Sachin D Tiwari v. Union Of India Thru. Secretary And ORS

19-PIL.146.2025.doc JVS.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 146 OF 2025 Sachin D. Tiwari } Petitioner

Versus

Union of India & Ors.

} Respondents Mr. Prashant Trivedi i/b. Ms. Archana Shukla, Advocates for the Petitioner.

Ms. Neha S. Bhide, Government Pleader with Mr. O. A. Chandurkar, Additional Government Pleader and Ms. G. R. Raghuwanshi, AGP for Respondent No. 2.

CORAM:

SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR, CJ. & GAUTAM A. ANKHAD, J.

DATE:

4th FEBRUARY 2026 P.C.:

A challenge has been laid to Rule 9 of the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015 being arbitrary, unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

2.

The grievance raised in this Public Interest Litigation is that the Railways while providing an option to cancel the tickets booked through Tatkal scheme is enriching itself by forfeiting the entire amount and receiving full consideration for booking of the cancelled tickets.

3.

There is no arbitrariness in the scheme framed by the Railways. As held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in "Balco Employees' Union v. Union of India" (2002) 2 SCC 333, the writ Court is not entitled to examine the policy decision and, in particular, the economic decision of the government. 4.

Public Interest Litigation No. 146 of 2025 is dismissed. JAYANT VISHWANATH SALUNKE JAYANT VISHWANATH SALUNKE Date: 2026.03.05 11:25:38 +0530 [GAUTAM A. ANKHAD, J.] [CHIEF JUSTICE]