Supreme Court in New Delhi, India.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) sought a response from the Centre to a plea seeking earmarked quota and concessional fare for acid attack victims (AAVs) in trains.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued notice on the petition filed by NGO, Atijeevan Society, represented by advocate Ananth Venkataramani, who argued that AAVs have to travel frequently for life-saving and restorative treatment.
They suffer from lifelong bodily and facial disfigurement, often resulting in blindness or severe physical disabilities. Their rehabilitation necessitates multiple reconstructive surgeries, advanced ophthalmic interventions and prolonged post-operative care. Specialised medical interventions are available only at a handful of elite tertiary institutions in metropolitan cities… Consequently, AAVs, who largely belong to economically weaker sections, are compelled to travel long distances,” the petition submitted.
It said that due to the nature of their burn injuries, persistent itching, and especially after undergoing surgery, AAVs often need to travel by train in air-conditioned coaches.
“However, the cost of AC tickets for frequent travel is extremely high and often becomes unaffordable for them. Due to the extant framework, AAVs can neither avail to earmarked quota otherwise available to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) nor the concessional railway fare facility,” the petition said.
AAVs are recognised as persons with specified disability under Schedule I to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act).
“Schedule I also includes several other specified disabilities such as haemophilia, thalassemia, total blindness, orthopaedically handicapped persons… The coaching tariff governs the grant of concessional fare to passengers in railways. It provides concessional fare to all the aforementioned category of PwDs except AAVs despite their exigent medical travel needs. Such exclusion is ex-facie arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constitution,” the petition said.
Published – January 20, 2026 01:01 am IST
