Indian Railways Ordered To Pay Rs 1 Lakh To This Passenger: His Berth Was Sold To Someone Else!

There was an incident wherein a passenger was denied a berth despite making a reservation one month before to the journey. Offended by this, the complainant knocked the doors of consumer court and recently the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Delhi ordered the East Central Railways to pay a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the complainant.

The order was issued by the Commission Member Rashmi Bansal. The complainant, Inder Nath Jha claimed that once he boarded the train, he claimed that the berth was sold to someone else.

Compensation of 1 Lakh Rupees

Due to this, the Commission ordered the East Central Railways (Opposite Party/ OP) to pay a sum of Rs. 50000 due to the fact that the East Central Railways (Opposite Party/ OP) was guilty of inadequacy in service and gross negligence.

For inflicting physical pain, mental anguish, trauma, harassment, and humiliation on the claimant another sum of 25000 was asked to be paid.

Another sum of 25,000 along with interest at the rate of 6% per year from the date of the case’s institution for the litigation costs was ordered to be paid.

Details of the Incident

On January 2, 2008, Inder Nath Jha purchased a ticket on the Swatantra Senani Express to travel from Darbhanga to Delhi on February 19, 2008 and coach S-4, berth 69, was assigned to him.

Jha, who was also ill at the time when he boarded the train said that, when he arrived at his berth, he found that the Rrailway had sold it to someone else.

After challenging the Traveling Ticket Examiner, he was given a new seat in carriage B-1.

According to the Railways, this was improved as part of the Railway Upgradation Scheme. However, the complainant claims that he was denied even this berth, and that he was forced to ride the entire route standing.

Jha alleged that when he said that he would file a complaint, the TTE and the employees rather than paying heed, humiliated him even more.

The Commission noted that the Railways had not produced any documentation demonstrating that the complainant had been informed of the upgrade in advance by any means.

The Commission believed that in the absence of any source of information about upgradation, it was impossible to envisage how the complainant would get to the AC Coach.

As a result of the Railways incompetence in not alerting the complainant about the upgrade, he was unable to obtain a seat despite having a reservation.