Using mobile phones in speaker mode in trains and railway premises attracts removal from railway premises, fine and imprisonment

At a time when people have increasingly been using their mobile phones to play music or watch videos in speaker mode in public places unmindful of the nuisance caused to others, the Railways has cautioned passengers against such a practice in the Railway premises. Also under the caution is the habit of people speaking loudly in Railway premises disturbing fellow passengers.

Invoking Section 145 (2) (a) of the Railways Act as amended through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act dealing with nuisance, the Railways has said causing nuisance to fellow public by using mobile phones in speaker mode and talking loudly would entail removal of such person from the Railway premises and imposing of a fine of ₹1,000. If the person continues the nuisance despite being warned by a competent railway official, he or she would be sentenced to six months simple imprisonment and / or ₹5,000 fine, the Railways has said.

In a recent circular to Divisions, the Southern Railway headquarters said it has been observed that passengers are playing music/audio on speaker in Railway Stations/Trains causing nuisance thereby adversely affecting the comfort level of other passengers.

Increased mobile internet access in the recent times has resulted in people playing videos and other contents through speaker mode. There was urgent need to put in place arrangements to ensure that travelling passenger were not inconvenienced.

Quoting Section 145 (2) (a) of the amended Railway Act, SR said the provision could be applied on nuisance when a person in any railway carriage or railway premises commits any nuisance or act of indecency or uses abusive or obscene language and wilfully interferes with any amenity provided by the railway administration so as to affect the comfortable travel of any passenger.

The HQ asked Divisions to make public announcements regarding this prohibition regularly to create awareness among passengers. Commercial staff not below the rank of ticket examiner were authorised to impose the penalty.

Musician’s plight

Last month, Carnatic vocalist Sivasri Skandaprasad, wife of MP Tejaswi Surya, had shared in social media her plight of travelling amid loudly talking group of 40 passengers in a 56 seater coach (AC 2-tier). Though she requested the travelling ticket examiner to find a berth in another coach, it was not available. While another group of eight passengers started playing Uno; but stopped after the TTE asked them to do so.

Ms. Skandaprasad wondered, “When will we as a nation improve our public behaviour.”