SC orders Railways to pay compensation if trains run late

The Supreme Court has ruled that, Indian Railways must pay compensation to passengers if trains run late.

Highlights

• Supreme Court slammed Indian Railways for delayed running of trains and ordered to pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 to a man who missed his flight because of the delay.
• Man was put through much inconvenience because of delay in running of a train.
• SC observed that, these are the days of competition as well as accountability. If public transportation has to survive and compete against the private players, they are required to improve the system and their working culture. Passengers cannot be at the mercy of the authorities or administration. One has to accept the responsibility.

What was the issue?

The apex court has upheld the compensation awarded to a passenger whose train was delayed by four hours when he was travelling to Jammu with his family in 2016. They missed their flight. As a result, they had to take an expensive taxi to Srinagar. They also missed their booking of a boat on Dal Lake. Following the incident, passenger filed a case with the district consumer grievances forum in Alwar, Rajasthan. Forum directed the North-Western Railways to pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 for the costs incurred by the passenger and his family because of missed flight.

Railway’s response

The railways appealed against the forum’s order. But its contentions were rejected by various forums, including the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi. Railways then appealed in Supreme Court against the compensation awarded to the passenger. In Supreme court, a two-judge bench held that the railways was liable to pay compensation to any passenger who files a claim against it in case railways fails to provide justification or valid reason for delay running of train.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021