Chennai: In a significant order aimed at ensuring dignity and accessibility for vulnerable commuters, the Chief Justice’s bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to conduct surprise inspections on metro trains to prevent able-bodied passengers from occupying seats reserved for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
The directive came following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate V.P.R. Menon, who highlighted that priority seating stickers inside compartments were being routinely ignored by young, able-bodied commuters, leaving elderly and differently-abled passengers standing even when such seats were marked.
Court’s Directives to CMRL
The bench issued clear operational guidelines to the metro administration. It mandated periodic unannounced checks by metro officials to monitor compliance with priority seating rules. The court also ordered that immediate action be taken on complaints from eligible passengers who are denied seats. Furthermore, CMRL was instructed to actively consider the petitioner’s suggestion of designating exclusively reserved seating, moving beyond the current system of priority stickers which has proven ineffective.