Re: [AI] Delhi High court directs railways to provide the concessional tickets online to disables
Once Again, Kudos to Advocate Mr Sinha. On 9/22/12, akhilesh akhil.akhi...@gmail.com wrote: Hi to all, Now, the day is not very far when we'll be booking the concessional tickets online. Delhi High court, responding to a PIL filed by a visually challenged person, directed the centerl and railways to provide the concessional ticket online. However, it will take few months to become the picture more clear. I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Pankaj Sinha who has handled this case with great conviction and care and brought the justice to millions and millions of disabled people Pasting the entire six page judgment below. Dropbox link is given at the very end to download the original PDF file. === * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 2145 OF 2011 % Judgments Reserved on:22.8.2012 Judgment Delivered on:12.09.2012 PRAVEEN KUMAR G . . . PETITIONER Through : Mr. Pankaj Sinha, Advocate. VERSUS UNION OF INDIA ORS. ... RESPONDENTS Through: Mr. Rajeeve Mehra, ASG with Mr. R.V. Sinha, Mr. R.N. Sinha, Mr. Ashish Virmani, Advocates for UOI. CORAM :- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW A.K. SIKRI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE: 1. This petition filed in public interest by a blind person alleges, in this petition the discrimination between disabled persons and senior citizens in the Policy of IRCTC which provides facilities and services for issuing the railway ticket on internet, or at the reservation counters. It is pointed out that whereas senior citizens can book their railway tickets at concessional rate on the internet as mentioned in the policy, disabled persons cannot avail the same. Therefore, they are left with no other option but to get their railway ticket booked from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations and reservation centres. 2. The policy of senior citizens is as under:- In case of tickets booked through internet no concession is permitted except senior citizen. Thus, a person with disability is not entitled to avail the concessional facility in case the tickets are booked through internet, which is otherwise available to him if he/she buys from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations. 3. The petitioner filed an application under Right to Information Act, 2005 to the Public Information Officer of the Indian Catering and Tourism Corporation limited on 18.9.2009 seeking information for travel concessions for completely blind persons on the website of IRCTC. The said application was replied by the IRCTC on 12.10.2009 stating that the travel concessions for blind persons for online ticket booking is a policy matter and needs to taken up by the Ministry. Hence, IRCTC shirked off its responsibility from this vital issue and no initiative was taken by the same regarding introducing the system of online ticket booking at concessional rate. The petitioner filed a representation to the Railway Board dated 3.6.2010 requesting the facility of concessional booking of tickets on IRCTC to be extended to the handicaps as is already done for the senior citizens. The said representation was replied by the Railway Board on 13.9.2010 stating that the concessional booking of ticket on IRCTC website has been extended where the physical document is not required to be submitted in advance as it might lead to misuse of the electronic reservation slip and hence, handicaps are not allowed to do the same. It is submitted that no effort has been made by the Ministry of railway to make the policy disabled friendly and have arbitrarily denied the facility to them. The Policy of IRCTC was formulated to provide as a feature to the public at large. Later, the internet ticket booking facility was introduced at concessional rates for the senior citizens. The said policy is formulated and issued by the Railway Board, which is under the Ministry of Railway. Thus, the said policy is exclusively for the public at large and the same is highlighted as the sole Eligibility Criteria on the website of the said department except the senior citizens, who are entitled for ticket booking through internet at concessional rate. 4. The submission of the petitioner is that the persons with disability cannot access this concession facility though provided to senior citizen and, therefore, it amounts to discrimination qua the disabled persons. With this, though the concessional facility is required, it cannot be effectively availed. It is submitted that the system of online ticket booking helps to save time and resources and also help the public at large to avoid long queue at the reservation counter. The said system has also helped the system of ticket booking more accessible and easy to handle. In this context it would be pertinent to mention that such a system for ticket booking would be magnanimously useful and beneficial
Re: [AI] Delhi High court directs railways to provide the concessional tickets online to disables
thanks for the timely mail Avinash! indeed its an historical judgment, we are grateful to him for having fought for this. regards Boopathi On 12/15/14, avinash shahi shahi88avin...@gmail.com wrote: Once Again, Kudos to Advocate Mr Sinha. On 9/22/12, akhilesh akhil.akhi...@gmail.com wrote: Hi to all, Now, the day is not very far when we'll be booking the concessional tickets online. Delhi High court, responding to a PIL filed by a visually challenged person, directed the centerl and railways to provide the concessional ticket online. However, it will take few months to become the picture more clear. I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Pankaj Sinha who has handled this case with great conviction and care and brought the justice to millions and millions of disabled people Pasting the entire six page judgment below. Dropbox link is given at the very end to download the original PDF file. === * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 2145 OF 2011 % Judgments Reserved on:22.8.2012 Judgment Delivered on:12.09.2012 PRAVEEN KUMAR G . . . PETITIONER Through : Mr. Pankaj Sinha, Advocate. VERSUS UNION OF INDIA ORS. ... RESPONDENTS Through: Mr. Rajeeve Mehra, ASG with Mr. R.V. Sinha, Mr. R.N. Sinha, Mr. Ashish Virmani, Advocates for UOI. CORAM :- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW A.K. SIKRI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE: 1. This petition filed in public interest by a blind person alleges, in this petition the discrimination between disabled persons and senior citizens in the Policy of IRCTC which provides facilities and services for issuing the railway ticket on internet, or at the reservation counters. It is pointed out that whereas senior citizens can book their railway tickets at concessional rate on the internet as mentioned in the policy, disabled persons cannot avail the same. Therefore, they are left with no other option but to get their railway ticket booked from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations and reservation centres. 2. The policy of senior citizens is as under:- In case of tickets booked through internet no concession is permitted except senior citizen. Thus, a person with disability is not entitled to avail the concessional facility in case the tickets are booked through internet, which is otherwise available to him if he/she buys from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations. 3. The petitioner filed an application under Right to Information Act, 2005 to the Public Information Officer of the Indian Catering and Tourism Corporation limited on 18.9.2009 seeking information for travel concessions for completely blind persons on the website of IRCTC. The said application was replied by the IRCTC on 12.10.2009 stating that the travel concessions for blind persons for online ticket booking is a policy matter and needs to taken up by the Ministry. Hence, IRCTC shirked off its responsibility from this vital issue and no initiative was taken by the same regarding introducing the system of online ticket booking at concessional rate. The petitioner filed a representation to the Railway Board dated 3.6.2010 requesting the facility of concessional booking of tickets on IRCTC to be extended to the handicaps as is already done for the senior citizens. The said representation was replied by the Railway Board on 13.9.2010 stating that the concessional booking of ticket on IRCTC website has been extended where the physical document is not required to be submitted in advance as it might lead to misuse of the electronic reservation slip and hence, handicaps are not allowed to do the same. It is submitted that no effort has been made by the Ministry of railway to make the policy disabled friendly and have arbitrarily denied the facility to them. The Policy of IRCTC was formulated to provide as a feature to the public at large. Later, the internet ticket booking facility was introduced at concessional rates for the senior citizens. The said policy is formulated and issued by the Railway Board, which is under the Ministry of Railway. Thus, the said policy is exclusively for the public at large and the same is highlighted as the sole Eligibility Criteria on the website of the said department except the senior citizens, who are entitled for ticket booking through internet at concessional rate. 4. The submission of the petitioner is that the persons with disability cannot access this concession facility though provided to senior citizen and, therefore, it amounts to discrimination qua the disabled persons. With this, though the concessional facility is required, it cannot be effectively availed. It is submitted that the system of online ticket booking helps to save time and resources and also help the public at large to avoid long queue at the reservation counter. The said system has also helped
Re: [AI] Delhi High court directs railways to provide the concessional tickets online to disables
great news! Thanks a lot for such great news! Regards! Swati M Sharma when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best! - Original Message - From: akhilesh akhil.akhi...@gmail.com To: accessindia accessindia@accessindia.org.in Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 5:21 AM Subject: [AI] Delhi High court directs railways to provide the concessional tickets online to disables Hi to all, Now, the day is not very far when we'll be booking the concessional tickets online. Delhi High court, responding to a PIL filed by a visually challenged person, directed the centerl and railways to provide the concessional ticket online. However, it will take few months to become the picture more clear. I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Pankaj Sinha who has handled this case with great conviction and care and brought the justice to millions and millions of disabled people Pasting the entire six page judgment below. Dropbox link is given at the very end to download the original PDF file. === * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 2145 OF 2011 % Judgments Reserved on:22.8.2012 Judgment Delivered on:12.09.2012 PRAVEEN KUMAR G . . . PETITIONER Through : Mr. Pankaj Sinha, Advocate. VERSUS UNION OF INDIA ORS. … RESPONDENTS Through: Mr. Rajeeve Mehra, ASG with Mr. R.V. Sinha, Mr. R.N. Sinha, Mr. Ashish Virmani, Advocates for UOI. CORAM :- HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW A.K. SIKRI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE: 1. This petition filed in public interest by a blind person alleges, in this petition the discrimination between disabled persons and senior citizens in the Policy of IRCTC which provides facilities and services for issuing the railway ticket on internet, or at the reservation counters. It is pointed out that whereas senior citizens can book their railway tickets at concessional rate on the internet as mentioned in the policy, disabled persons cannot avail the same. Therefore, they are left with no other option but to get their railway ticket booked from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations and reservation centres. 2. The policy of senior citizens is as under:- “In case of tickets booked through internet no concession is permitted except senior citizen. “Thus, a person with disability is not entitled to avail the concessional facility in case the tickets are booked through internet, which is otherwise available to him if he/she buys from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations. 3. The petitioner filed an application under Right to Information Act, 2005 to the Public Information Officer of the Indian Catering and Tourism Corporation limited on 18.9.2009 seeking information for travel concessions for completely blind persons on the website of IRCTC. The said application was replied by the IRCTC on 12.10.2009 stating that the travel concessions for blind persons for online ticket booking is a policy matter and needs to taken up by the Ministry. Hence, IRCTC shirked off its responsibility from this vital issue and no initiative was taken by the same regarding introducing the system of online ticket booking at concessional rate. The petitioner filed a representation to the Railway Board dated 3.6.2010 requesting the facility of concessional booking of tickets on IRCTC to be extended to the handicaps as is already done for the senior citizens. The said representation was replied by the Railway Board on 13.9.2010 stating that the concessional booking of ticket on IRCTC website has been extended where the physical document is not required to be submitted in advance as it might lead to misuse of the electronic reservation slip and hence, handicaps are not allowed to do the same. It is submitted that no effort has been made by the Ministry of railway to make the policy disabled friendly and have arbitrarily denied the facility to them. The Policy of IRCTC was formulated to provide as a feature to the public at large. Later, the internet ticket booking facility was introduced at concessional rates for the senior citizens. The said policy is formulated and issued by the Railway Board, which is under the Ministry of Railway. Thus, the said policy is exclusively for the public at large and the same is highlighted as the sole Eligibility Criteria on the website of the said department except the senior citizens, who are entitled for ticket booking through internet at concessional rate. 4. The submission of the petitioner is that the persons with disability cannot access this concession facility though provided to senior citizen and, therefore, it amounts to discrimination qua the disabled persons. With this, though the concessional facility is required, it cannot
Re: [AI] Delhi High court directs railways to provide the concessional tickets online to disables
really good news indeed. Hats off to Mr Pankaj Sinha - Original Message - From: avinash shahi shahi88avin...@gmail.com To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 12:58 PM Subject: Re: [AI] Delhi High court directs railways to provide the concessional tickets online to disables Hats off to Advocate Mr Pankaj Sinha He has Been really making instrumental inroads in facilitating greater realisation of rights Whether it was Driving licence to Hearing impaired or this particular progress regarding online ticket booking, simply superb. Hope government of India will comply soon. On 9/22/12, akhilesh akhil.akhi...@gmail.com wrote: Hi to all, Now, the day is not very far when we'll be booking the concessional tickets online. Delhi High court, responding to a PIL filed by a visually challenged person, directed the centerl and railways to provide the concessional ticket online. However, it will take few months to become the picture more clear. I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Pankaj Sinha who has handled this case with great conviction and care and brought the justice to millions and millions of disabled people Pasting the entire six page judgment below. Dropbox link is given at the very end to download the original PDF file. === * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 2145 OF 2011 % Judgments Reserved on:22.8.2012 Judgment Delivered on:12.09.2012 PRAVEEN KUMAR G . . . PETITIONER Through : Mr. Pankaj Sinha, Advocate. VERSUS UNION OF INDIA ORS. … RESPONDENTS Through: Mr. Rajeeve Mehra, ASG with Mr. R.V. Sinha, Mr. R.N. Sinha, Mr. Ashish Virmani, Advocates for UOI. CORAM :- HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW A.K. SIKRI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE: 1. This petition filed in public interest by a blind person alleges, in this petition the discrimination between disabled persons and senior citizens in the Policy of IRCTC which provides facilities and services for issuing the railway ticket on internet, or at the reservation counters. It is pointed out that whereas senior citizens can book their railway tickets at concessional rate on the internet as mentioned in the policy, disabled persons cannot avail the same. Therefore, they are left with no other option but to get their railway ticket booked from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations and reservation centres. 2. The policy of senior citizens is as under:- “In case of tickets booked through internet no concession is permitted except senior citizen. “Thus, a person with disability is not entitled to avail the concessional facility in case the tickets are booked through internet, which is otherwise available to him if he/she buys from the designated ticket counters at various railway stations. 3. The petitioner filed an application under Right to Information Act, 2005 to the Public Information Officer of the Indian Catering and Tourism Corporation limited on 18.9.2009 seeking information for travel concessions for completely blind persons on the website of IRCTC. The said application was replied by the IRCTC on 12.10.2009 stating that the travel concessions for blind persons for online ticket booking is a policy matter and needs to taken up by the Ministry. Hence, IRCTC shirked off its responsibility from this vital issue and no initiative was taken by the same regarding introducing the system of online ticket booking at concessional rate. The petitioner filed a representation to the Railway Board dated 3.6.2010 requesting the facility of concessional booking of tickets on IRCTC to be extended to the handicaps as is already done for the senior citizens. The said representation was replied by the Railway Board on 13.9.2010 stating that the concessional booking of ticket on IRCTC website has been extended where the physical document is not required to be submitted in advance as it might lead to misuse of the electronic reservation slip and hence, handicaps are not allowed to do the same. It is submitted that no effort has been made by the Ministry of railway to make the policy disabled friendly and have arbitrarily denied the facility to them. The Policy of IRCTC was formulated to provide as a feature to the public at large. Later, the internet ticket booking facility was introduced at concessional rates for the senior citizens. The said policy is formulated and issued by the Railway Board, which is under the Ministry of Railway. Thus, the said policy is exclusively for the public at large and the same is highlighted as the sole Eligibility Criteria on the website of the said department except the senior citizens, who are entitled for ticket booking through internet at concessional rate. 4. The submission of the petitioner is that the persons with disability cannot access this concession facility though provided to senior citizen and, therefore, it amounts to discrimination qua the disabled persons. With
