railway fare waiver--Giving concession to senior citizens is a matter of government policy, the court cannot interfere in government policy--Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has recently said that giving or not giving exemption in railway fare to senior citizens is a matter of government policy, the court cannot interfere in government policy.Dismisses the petition filed by petitioner Balakrishnan seeking reinstatement of concessions that were discontinued to contain the spread of Corona.Significantly, to prevent the spread of the Corona epidemic, the central government had stopped the concessions given to senior citizens in railway fares.                                           Indian Railways used to provide 40% discount on fares for men aged 60 years and above and 50% discount for women above 58 years of age when traveling in trains before the corona pandemic.To reduce the movement of people to prevent the spread of Kovid -19 in 2020, the central government stopped these concessions to senior citizens.In view of the end of the epidemic, a parliamentary committee recently recommended the resumption of concessions given to senior citizens before the onset of the epidemic.Even after the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee, the Central Government has not taken any decision on the concessions given by the Railways to the senior citizens.Based on these recommendations of the parliamentary committee, Balakrishnan filed a petition in the Supreme Court.                                                     While hearing the matter, a division bench of Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice Ahasanuddin said that It is the responsibility of the government to give concessions to senior citizens.The government has to take a decision keeping in view the need of senior citizens and the impact on the exchequer.Therefore, it would not be proper for this Court to issue a writ of absolute mandate in a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.The court refused to give any direction to the government regarding the reinstatement of concessions.This has come as a jolt to senior citizens who were expecting concessions in railway fares.