HC asks Rlys to file affidavit on setting up medical centres

The Bombay High Court today asked Chairman of Railway Board to file an affidavit by December 10 stating what railway administration proposes to do to comply with court orders on setting up emergency medical centres at suburban stations to give first aid to accident victims.
The direction was given by a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activist Samir Zaveri, who had lost his legs in a railway mishap, on the issue of safety to suburban railway passengers.
The bench also asked the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to appear in this matter and assist the court. The Western and Central Railways are being represented by senior lawyer Suresh Kumar.

The bench also asked the Registrar of the High Court to conduct surprise visits at major railway stations and verify that ambulances were available there to carry accident victims to hospitals as claimed by the Railways.
The court had last year asked the railway authorities to set up 15 emergency medical centres at major stations. As this was not done till today, the bench expressed unhappiness and asked the Chairman of the Railway Board to respond by December 10.
The Railways had earlier informed that though it had not set up emergency medical centres as directed by the court, the administration had parked ambulances outside major suburban stations to carry accident victims to hospitals.

The railway administration informed that all the 28 suburban stations on the Western side and 76 stations on the Central Railway route had ambulances parked outside.

The Railways informed today that 'first aid box' was provided to Station Master at every station and there was no need to provide services of a doctor.
However, the petitioner said he had received a reply from Railways through RTI, which informs that the first aid box contains 66 medicines and can be used only by a doctor.
To this, the Railways argued that the RTI reply was not appropriate and hence should not be relied upon.

The court, thereupon, asked the petitioner to take appropriate steps against the authorities, if he so wishes, for giving wrong reply in an RTI.