The Supreme Court of India on Thursday, 13 August directed the Centre to place on record a draft policy within six weeks that would grant concessional railway travel to acid attack survivors, after the government signalled its in-principle acceptance of the proposal. The move follows a petition by Atijeevan Society, which argued that existing rail concessions fall critically short for survivors who must travel repeatedly across cities for specialised medical treatment.

What the Government Has Agreed To

Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, representing the Centre, informed the apex court that the Railway Board has agreed in principle to extend travel concessions to acid attack survivors under the existing 'patient category'. However, she noted that the specifics — including the form of the concession and its duration — are still being worked out. The Centre also agreed to share the draft policy with Atijeevan Society before filing it in court, allowing the organisation to offer suggestions.

Why Existing Concessions Fall Short

The petitioner pointed out that the current 'patient category' concessions are typically tied to travel between a fixed origin station and a single destination. Acid attack survivors, by contrast, often need to visit multiple cities for treatment at well-equipped hospitals. Additionally, survivors are required to obtain fresh concession certificates from different hospitals each time — a cumbersome process that is particularly burdensome in the critical early months following an attack, when timely treatment is most urgent.

The Emergency Quota Demand

Atijeevan Society also pressed for an emergency ticket quota specifically for acid attack survivors, arguing that the nature of their treatment requires travel at short notice. 'The emergency quota is required because survivors need to travel at short notice. If they don't get these treatments in time, then it becomes a failure,' the petitioner told the bench. The court indicated its support for the suggestion. The Centre said these aspects could be factored into the policy formulation.

The 'Disabled Category' Objection

The government, however, raised objections to classifying acid attack survivors under the 'disabled category' for the purpose of travel concessions. Officials argued that doing so would require the government to draw distinctions between different categories of disabled persons — a legal and administrative complication it wishes to avoid. The issue is expected to be addressed in the draft policy.

Bench and Next Steps

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, directed the Centre to submit the draft within six weeks. Once filed, Atijeevan Society will have the opportunity to respond with recommendations before the court takes a final view. The order marks a meaningful step toward addressing a long-standing gap in support infrastructure for acid attack survivors in India.