The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to railway authorities on a PIL petition challenging a recent circular making certain changes in rules relating to booking of tatkal tickets.

When the petition filed by a city advocate came up before the first bench comprising chief justice MY Eqbal and justice TS Sivagnanam, they ordered notice to the authorities concerned.

Petitioner S Srinivasa Narayanan has challenged the November 11 last circular by the railway board on cancellation of tatkal tickets, claiming that it would cause inconvenience to genuine passengers.

As per the circular, issued with the objective of curbing profiteering from the tatkal scheme, passengers would not be entitled for any refund in the event of cancellation of a confirmed ticket booked under tatkal scheme.

In the earlier scheme, in case of cancellation 25 per cent of the cost of the ticket, booked under the tatkal scheme, was refunded.

Similarly, genuine passengers would be punished by the condition that no duplicate tatkal ticket would be issued, the petitioner said.