March 12, 2026 : The Supreme Court of India has observed that travel insurance for railway passengers should not be limited only to those who book tickets online, and should also be made available to passengers purchasing tickets at railway reservation counters.

A Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan made the observation while examining an issue concerning insurance coverage provided during train travel. At present, passengers who book tickets through the IRCTC website have the option to purchase accident insurance by paying a small additional amount. However, the same facility is not available to passengers who buy their tickets from railway reservation counters.

The Bench noted that such a distinction is difficult to justify, as the method of booking a ticket should not determine whether a passenger receives the benefit of travel insurance. The Court emphasised that passengers should not be denied insurance coverage merely because they did not book their tickets online.

During the hearing, concerns were raised about the possibility of misuse if the insurance facility were extended to counter ticket holders, particularly in relation to verification of passenger identity. The Court, however, stated that such concerns cannot be used as a ground to deny the benefit altogether.

The judges suggested that railway authorities could introduce technological measures at reservation counters to record passenger details and enable the provision of insurance coverage. The Court observed that once a ticket is issued, it becomes the responsibility of the railways to ensure that proper systems are in place for passenger identification and processing of insurance claims.

The Court’s remarks underline the importance of ensuring equal access to travel safety measures for all railway passengers, irrespective of how they purchase their tickets.