The Supreme Court recently inquired about the measures taken or planned by the Indian government, including the 'Kavach' automatic train protection system, to prevent train accidents in the country. During a hearing on a petition addressing safety concerns, the bench, consisting of Justice Surya Kant and Justice K V Viswanathan, requested the petitioner, Vishal Tiwari, to submit a copy of the plea to the Attorney General's office.

The Court instructed the Attorney General to inform the Court about the protective measures already in place or proposed, specifically mentioning the 'Kavach' scheme. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing in four weeks.

Tiwari, the petitioner, emphasized the public safety aspect of his plea, citing a tragic train accident in Odisha's Balasore district last year. He pointed out that the government had introduced the 'Kavach' system to prevent train collisions and questioned whether there had been an assessment of the financial implications of implementing it nationwide. The Court acknowledged the financial considerations, expressing concern that any cost would ultimately be borne by passengers.

The petitioner urged the government to update the Court on the steps taken to address safety concerns, especially in light of various ongoing projects. The plea specifically calls for the establishment of an expert commission, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to assess and enhance safety parameters in the railway system.

The petition claims that the delayed implementation of the 'Kavach' system has resulted in significant loss of life and damage to public property, alleging gross negligence and a breach of duty by the authorities. It also seeks guidelines for immediate implementation of the 'Kavach' system in Indian Railways to prevent accidents, emphasizing the fundamental right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The petitioner referred to recent train accidents, including one involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, highlighting the urgent need for installing the 'Kavach' protection system to ensure the safety of train movements across the country. The plea was filed shortly after the crash near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore last year, involving these trains and a goods train carrying around 2,500 passengers.