SC to examine kids' safety issue at unmanned railway crossings

The Supreme Court today decided to examine the "serious" issue of children's safety at unmanned railway crossings saying it is necessary to address the matter to protect them from becoming victims of accidents.
"A serious issue has been raised about unmanned railway crossings where children have died in accidents. Lot many illustration of children being killed at unmanned railway crossing has been given," a bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha said.
However, before passing any order on the PIL, the bench said the petition needs to be drafted properly as there has been lot of incoherency in averments and the petitioner has mixed up the facts of railway accidents with road mishaps.

"Since the issue raised in the writ petition relates to safety of children at unmanned railway crossings, we are of the view that it requires consideration after appropriate amendment in the writ petition," the bench, also comprising justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman said.
The bench asked senior advocate Dinesh Dwivedi to assist the court on the PIL filed by Delhi-based priest Ajay Gautam who raised the issue of children, majority of them school going, becoming victims at the unmanned railway crossings.
The apex court in its order noted that the petition has highlighted about several accidents in each state in which children, large number of them being school going have been reported to have been killed.

The bench asked advocate-on-record K K Mohan to file the amended petition within three weeks.