Gauhati High Court Dismisses PIL on Railway Safety and Service Standards

Court Emphasizes Need for Concrete Evidence in Public Interest Litigations, Dismisses Petition for Lacking Specificity

Guwahati, December 12, 2025: The Gauhati High Court, comprising Chief Justice Mr. Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury, dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the All India Railway Passengers User Facilities Federation against the Union of India, citing a lack of specific evidence and concrete data. The PIL alleged deficiencies in punctuality, safety standards, service quality of the Railways, and the incomplete implementation of the "Kavach" system, an advanced automatic train protection mechanism.

The Court, in its judgment, highlighted the importance of specificity and concrete evidence in PILs. It noted that the petition was largely based on broad and sweeping allegations without any substantial material or data to support claims of systemic failures or statutory violations. The judges emphasized that PILs should not be founded on perceived emergencies or general grievances about administrative functions without detailed evidence.

The bench pointed out that matters related to railway safety protocols and technical systems like "Kavach" fall within the purview of specialized authorities. The Court clarified that it does not have the mandate to replace the expert opinions of competent authorities unless there is a clear demonstration of arbitrariness, illegality, or inaction in statutory duties.

In their observations, the judges warned against the court becoming a super-regulatory body through vague petitions. They stated that general governance issues should not be addressed via judicial orders unless specific statutory breaches or failures are evidenced.

While dismissing the petition, the Court granted the petitioner the liberty to make representations before the competent authority, provided they can furnish specific instances, documentary materials, and identifiable legal violations. This dismissal underscores the judiciary's stance on upholding the integrity of PILs and ensuring they are used effectively to address genuine public interest concerns with a robust factual foundation.

The decision reinforces the need for petitioners to back their claims with evidence, especially in cases involving complex technical and policy issues. The Railways, being a public sector entity, are expected to continue their efforts in upgrading safety systems and modernizing infrastructure based on expert assessments and budgetary considerations.

Bottom Line:

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) - PIL cannot be based on sweeping allegations, perceived emergencies, or general grievances about systemic functioning without concrete material particulars or data.

Statutory provision(s): Public Interest Litigation.

All India Railway Passengers User Facilities Federation v. Union of India, (Gauhati)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2822009