5 Feb 2024 1:31 PM GMT
The Supreme Court on Monday (February 5) sought a detailed status report from the Union Government regarding the future planning of the implementation of the anti-collision 'Kavach' system in the Indian Railways.
The Public Interest Litigation filed by an Advocate Vishal Tiwari, raises issues regarding safety/protection measures with respect to the train accidents in India. It is pointed out that the Government of India has approved the Kavach System to prevent train accidents. However, the said Kavach system has yet not been implemented in all trains.
On the last date of hearing, the Court had requested the Attorney General for India to apprise it about the steps taken so far by the Government in this regard.
Today, when the matter was called on hearing before the Bench of Justices Surya Kant and K.V. Viswanathan, the counsel representing the Union stated the difficulty in the faster implementation of the 'Kavach' system.
“We're dependent on the foreign working material for a long period, and if there's an indigenous substitution takes place, there is still a foreign competition bringing impediments in the implementation.” the counsel submitted.
Although, the counsel stated that the government is very serious about the implementation of the Kavach System.
“What is your future plan… it is an ambitious project, this is not something which can be done in a month or year or so…it might require you also a lot of time…just an idea.” Justice Kant asked the Union's Counsel.
Further, Justice Viswanathan asked the counsel if some report is present which suggests that the system is partly implemented in answer to some parliamentary query. “Some report that partly it is implemented up to a certain mile in answer to some parliamentary query....”
To this, the counsel replied that a huge technical dimension is involved to cover the entire nation.
After a request was made on behalf of the counsel, the Court granted four weeks to file a status report.
The matter is next listed after six weeks.
Case Details:
Vishal Tiwari vs. Union of India
Diary No.- 23592 - 2023