Lok Sabha Question No. 1819 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-27
Subject: FIR System in Railway Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1819 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2022

## FIR SYSTEM IN RAILWAY NETWORK

†1819.    SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the FIR system is required for Railway network and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  any  concrete  measures  are  being  taken  to  make  train journey safer;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  desired  objective  of  RPF  should  be  zero  tolerance; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1819  BY  SHRI  ANIL  FIROJIYA  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.07.2022 REGARDING FIR SYSTEM IN RAILWAY NETWORK

(a) to (e) : 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and, as such, State Governments are responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration  and  investigation  of crime and maintaining law and order etc. on Railways through their law enforcement  agencies  viz.  Government  Railway  Police  (GRP)/District Police. However, Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/District Police to provide better protection and  security of passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith.

Different  States have  different  mechanisms  for  lodging  of  FIR  and registration  of  crime.  However,  to  facilitate  travelling  passengers,  who need  to  report  a  crime  in  running  trains,  First  Information  Report  (FIR) forms  are  available  with  TTE,  Guard  and  RPF/GRP  train  escorting  staff. The passengers desirous to report a crime may fill up the FIR form and hand it over to one of the said officials for registration of the case at the next Police Station irrespective of the jurisdiction for taking subsequent action. If the place of occurrence does not fall in the jurisdiction of Police stations where FIR is lodged, the case is registered under Zero FIR and transferred  to  the  concerned  Government  Railway  Police  Station/Police station  of  local  police  having  jurisdiction.  Further  course  of  action  is taken by the Police as per extant legal provisions.

In order to ensure safe and secure journey to passengers, following steps are being taken by the railways in coordination with GRP:-

1. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/sections,  trains  are  escorted  by Railway Protection Force in addition to trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.

2. For  immediate  assistance  passengers  can  make  complaint  on  Rail Madad  Portal  directly  or  through  Helpline  Number  139  (integrated with National Emergency No. 112).
3. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  twitter,  facebook  etc., Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  to  address  their security concerns.
4. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate  passengers  to  take  precautions  against  theft,  snatching, drugging etc.
5. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in 5882 coaches in trains and 861 Railway stations for enhanced security of passengers.
6. Under 'Meri Saheli' initiative, focused attention has been provided for safety  and  security  of  lady  passengers  travelling  alone  by  long distance trains for their entire journey i.e. from originating station to destination station.
7. Zonal railways have been instructed for deployment  of proper combined  strength  of  male  &  female  RPF/RPSF  personnel  in  train escort parties, to the extent possible.
8. Emergency Talk Back System and Closed Circuit Television Surveillance Cameras have been provided in ladies compartments/coaches of all newly manufactured Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) and Air-conditioned rakes of Kolkata Metro. Flasher lights have also been provided in ladies coaches in EMU rakes in some zonal railways.
9. Drives  are  conducted  against  entry  of  male  passengers  into  the compartments reserved for ladies.

10. State  Level  Security  Committee  of  Railways  (SLSCR)  have  been constituted for all State/Union Territories under the Chairmanship of respective  Director  General  of  Police/Commissioner  of  States/Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of the Railways.

Further, close liaison is made by Railways with the State Police/GRP authorities at all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their  investigation  and  maintenance  of  law  and  order  in  Railway premises as well as on running trains. Therefore, sincere efforts are undertaken by Indian Railways to make the journey safe for travelling passengers.

*****