BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Law
      • "Compensate Passengers for...
      Law

      "Compensate Passengers for Deficient Service": Supreme Court To Railways

      Railways will have to compensate disgruntled passengers if they cannot justify late arrivals of trains.

      By - Ritika Jain |
      Published -  8 Sept 2021 6:10 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Compensate Passengers for Deficient Service: Supreme Court To Railways

      The Supreme Court on September 6 held that the railways will have to compensate its passengers for deficiency of service if it cannot justify why a train is running late. This means, disgruntled passengers can claim compensation if the Railways cannot explain why the trains are running late.

      Every passenger's time is precious, the court had observed while passing the order.

      The Supreme Court enforced the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) order directing the Northern Railways to pay Rs 30,000 with 9 percent interest to Sanjay Shukla who, in 2016, missed his flight to Srinagar because the Ajmer-Jammu train he was traveling in reached its destination four hours late.

      "These are the days of competition and accountability. If public transportation has to survive and compete with private players, they have to improve the system and their working culture, the court said. "Citizens/passengers cannot be at the mercy of the authorities/administration. Somebody has to accept the responsibility," the top court bench comprising Justices MR Shah and Aniruddha Bose observed.

      "Therefore, unless and until the evidence is laid explaining the delay and it is established and proved that delay occurred which was beyond their control and/or even there was some justification for delay, the railway is liable to pay the compensation for delay and late arrival of trains," the court's order read.

      The top court's order came on a plea filed by the Northern railways challenging the district and state consumer forums decisions directing it to compensate Shukla.

      Delay means deficiency of service: Consumer Forum

      In 2016, Shukla approached the consumer forum stating that he had missed his flight to Srinagar because the train he was traveling in reached Jammu station four hours late. Shukla said he not only missed his flight but also had to additionally fork out Rs 15,000 for a taxi to take him to Srinagar. Shukla and his family also lost their booking on a boat at Dal Lake incurring additional expenditure.

      The Alwar District Consumer Forum held the Railways accountable and put down the delay as a deficiency in service. The forum had directed Northern Western Railway to pay Shukla Rs. 15,000 for taxi expenses, Rs. 10,000 towards booking expenses, and Rs. 5,000 each towards mental agony and litigation expenses.

      The Railways challenged this order but failed to make its case before the apex consumer body and later the Supreme Court.

      Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who represented the railways in the Supreme Court, had argued that a train running late could not be chalked down to a deficiency in service. Arguing against the compensation, she said "there may be a number of reasons for the delay and the late running of trains."

      The top court however did not buy into her arguments. "No evidence at all was led by the railways explaining the delay and/or late arrival of trains at Jammu. The railways were required to lead the evidence and explain the late arrival of trains to establish and prove that delay occurred because of reasons beyond their control. At least the railways were required to explain the delay, which they failed," the Supreme Court observed in its seven-page order.

      Tags

      Consumer RightsNCDRCSupreme Court Of IndiaIndian Railway
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!