Why sell excess tickets? HC raps Indian Railways over New Delhi stampede

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed concern over Indian Railways’ decision to sell more tickets than the available capacity of train coaches, which led to a fatal stampede at New Delhi railway station on February 15. The court issued notices to the Union Government, Railways, and the Railway Board, seeking clarification on the safety measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Arth Vidhi, a group of legal and business professionals, who raised questions about the Railways’ practice of overselling tickets. “If there’s a defined capacity for passengers per coach, why were tickets being sold in excess of that limit? This is a fundamental issue,” the top court pointed out.

The stampede, which tragically claimed 18 lives, including nine women and four children, also left several others injured. It occurred when a large number of passengers, many of whom were devotees traveling to the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh, created an overwhelming rush at the station. The next hearing on the case has been scheduled for March 26. On the evening of the incident, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, about 10,000 unreserved tickets were sold, more than 2000 than usual. This sharp rise in ticket sales, largely due to the influx of Kumbh pilgrims, led to overcrowding on two platforms, ultimately resulting in the deadly stampede.

The court referred to Section 57 of the Railways Act, which mandates a maximum number of passengers per coach, and noted that this regulation was not being followed. “Had the Railways adhered to this capacity limit, the tragedy might have been prevented. While adjustments can be made during peak periods, there must be a clear limit,” the bench stated.

Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General representing the Railways, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and assured the court that the matter would be thoroughly investigated. “The law already exists, and we are bound by it. No additional directives are needed for us to fulfil our obligations,” he stated. “We often face unanticipated rushes, especially during peak times. The Railway Board is aware of these issues and will take appropriate action,” he further added.

This was the second such incident of stampede concerning Kumbh pilgrims. On January 29, at least thirty people had lost their lives in a massive stampede in Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, leaving scores injured.​