New Delhi, Sep 7 - Indian Railways have agreed to examine a proposal to provide 75 percent concession to HIV/AIDS patients for their rail journeys for medical treatment while various states have agreed to provide free transport to them for the purpose, the Supreme Court was informed Monday.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam was given this information by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) during the adjudication of a public interest lawsuit, seeking various types of medical and other helps for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs).

NACO Deputy Director General Damodar Bachani in an affidavit told the bench that the railways provide 50 percent concession to PLHAs in unreserved coaches, while patients of other diseases like cancer, leprosy and tuberculosis are given a concession of 75 percent in reserved compartments along with their escorts.

He said this issue of further subsidising the rail journeys of the PLHAs was raised in an inter-ministerial meeting Aug 21, when it was emphasised that PLHAs too should be provided 75 percent concessions like other patients along with their escorts during their journey for treatment.