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ITEM NO.40 COURT NO.2 SECTION PIL-W

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 494/2023

M. K. BALAKRISHNAN Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA Respondent(s)

(FOR ADMISSION and IA No.82491/2023-PERMISSION TO APPEAR AND ARGUE

IN PERSON )

Date : 28-04-2023 This petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KISHAN KAUL

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHSANUDDIN AMANULLAH

For Petitioner(s)

Petitioner-in-person

For Respondent(s)

UPON hearing ptr.in person the Court made the following

O R D E R

The petitioner appearing in person has

drawn our attention to letter dated 02.01.2023. We

cannot entertain the petition under Article 32 of the

Constitution of India as the matter involves the

policy decision of the Railways whether to restore

the railway concession to senior citizens as was done

before on the ground of being a welfare State.

However, this representation of the

petitioner dated 02.01.2023 has been dealt with by

the

Ministry of Railways vide letter dated

12.01.2023 stating as under:

Digitally signed by

Charanjeet Kaur

Date: 2023.04.29

12:48:17 IST

Reason:

Signature Not Verified

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“reference

to

your

dated

02.01.2023 on the above subject

matter, it is informed not to give

subsidy of Rs. 59,837 crore on

passenger tickets in 2019-2020.

This amount of 53% on an average, to

every

person,

travelling

on

Railways. This giving for all

passengers.

Further concessions

beyond this subsidy amount are come

categories

like

Divyangjans,

students and patients.”

In view of the aforesaid reason and the

matter involving a fiscal issue, it would not be

appropriate for this Court to issue writ of this

nature, the petitioner seeks and it is for the

Government to take a call on the policy decision

keeping in mind the needs of the senior citizens and

the fiscal repercussions.

The writ petition is dismissed with the

aforesaid observations.

[CHARANJEET KAUR] [POONAM VAID]

ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS COURT MASTER (NSH)