Railway Ticket Concession: There is good news for senior citizens traveling by railway. The discount given to senior citizens on train tickets can be restored once again. A parliamentary committee has requested the government for this.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railway Ministry, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Radha Mohan Singh, has urged the Railway Ministry to consider sympathetically on restoring the concession given to senior citizens while traveling by train.
The parliamentary committee, in its report presented in both the houses, has said that the Railway Ministry should start giving one-time exemption to senior citizens in sleeper class and 3A category.
How much discount did senior citizens get?
According to the report, the committee said that Indian Railways used to give 40 percent fare concession to men aged 60 years and above and 50 percent concession to women if the minimum age was 58 years. This discount was given for all classes in Mail/Express/Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto group trains.
The report said that the Ministry of Railways had launched the ‘Senior Citizen Concession Waiver’ initiative and had given the option to senior citizens who want to contribute to the development of the country to buy their tickets without concessions. Can book. According to reports, the exemption option for senior citizens was withdrawn on March 20, 2020, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior citizens can again get exemption-
It has been said in the report that during the Corona epidemic, the facility of discount in train fare from senior citizens was removed. But now the Covid protocols have ended. The train has regained its normal speed. The committee said that it urges the Ministry to consider sympathetically and reintroduce the relaxation given to senior citizens in sleeper class and 3A category.
Supreme Court’s decision regarding discount in rail fares
Recently, the Supreme Court had rejected the petition demanding restoration of concession in rail fare for senior citizens. The bench comprising Justice SK Kaul and Justice Ehsanuddin Amanullah said that it is not appropriate for the court to issue guidelines in this regard.
The government will have to take a decision on discount in rail fares. This petition was filed in the Supreme Court by one K Balakrishnan. While hearing the petition, the court said that under Article 32 of the Constitution, it would not be appropriate for the court to issue orders to the government as per the petition.
