In a significant directive impacting millions of rail commuters, the Supreme Court of India on October 13, 2026, directed Indian Railways to ensure that travel insurance coverage is extended to tickets bought over the counter at reservation counters, mirroring the scheme available for online bookings.

Parity Between Counter and Online Tickets

A Bench of the Supreme Court addressed systemic issues regarding passenger welfare and accidental insurance disparities, expressing strong dissatisfaction over the lack of uniformity in insurance benefits for offline ticket buyers.

Key Observations and Directions

  • Equal Protection and Welfare: The Court noted that ordinary passengers who purchase tickets physically from reservation counters should not be deprived of travel insurance benefits extended automatically to online platform users.
  • Timeframe for Implementation: The Apex Court ordered the authorities to operationalize and implement the insurance coverage extension within two weeks, with effect from October 27.

The Supreme Court accordingly disposed of the miscellaneous applications with binding directions issued to the railway administration.