Court notice to IRCTC over reservation in stall allotment at railway station

JAIPUR: A division bench of Rajasthan High Court on Monday issued notices to the chairman-cum-managing director of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and also sought a reply from the rail ministry, general manager, north western railways (NWR) and divisional railway manager (DRM), NWR, over reservation in the allotment of stalls at the railway stations.

A bench comprising acting Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Goverdhan Bardhar issued notices following public interest litigation (PIL) by one Surendra Kumar (65) who prayed quashing of the clause 10 of catering policy, 2017, which had given a nod to 49% reservation in allotment of food stalls.

"We have filed the petition to challenge the commercial circular no 20/2017, Catering Policy, 2017 to the extent of reservation for allotment of food stalls. This is contrary to the constitutional provisions which do not provide reservation in trade and business as it is a violation of fundamental rights of a large section of the citizens as guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (g) read with Article 14, 21 and 301 of Constitution of India," said Rakesh Kumar, the counsel for the petitioner while talking to TOI.

Kumar added that the petitioner got this information on catering policy of the railways through right to information (RTI) application. The petitioner also informed the court that he got retired from Indian Air Force (IAF) and is keenly interested in protecting the fundamental and legal rights of public at large in the state. "We have also maintained in the court that the country provides every citizen a right to choose his own employment or take up any trade or business.