Madras High Court upholds railway rules on sleeping berth timings

The Madras High Court has dismissed a legal challenge against Para 652(a) of the Indian Railway Commercial Manual Vol-I, which restricts the use of sleeping berths to the hours between 10 pm and 6 am. The appeal was filed by a passenger who argued that the rule caused distress to his unwell wife when co-passengers refused to allow her to use the berth outside of these designated hours.

A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan ruled that the restriction is designed to ensure the convenience of all passengers and serves the broader public interest. The court noted that a solitary incident of co-passengers declining to extend sleeping hours does not justify invalidating a rule intended for the general public.

The court clarified that while the restriction exists, Para 652(d) provides for relaxations for sick persons, pregnant women, and disabled passengers. The bench advised that individuals experiencing difficulties should report such issues to onboard railway staff, the Railway Protection Force, or station officials to ensure these safeguards are enforced.