Mysuru: A consumer court in the city ordered Indian Railways to pay Rs 37000 as compensation to a family, for its 33-hour long ordeal travelling inside a train standing for nearly 2000 kms from Ujjain to Mysuru.
Vijesh, a resident of Siddartha Layout in the town had booked 3 tickets to travel from Ujjain to Mysuru on May 25 in Jaipur–Mysuru Superfast Express.
Despite confirmed berths in S5 coach, other passengers had illegally occupied the seats forcing Vijesh’s family to either travel standing or drop travel plans after boarding the train. When Vijesh complained to the Train Ticket examiner (TTE) and subsequently to Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, they did not bother to resolve the issue.
Vijesh’s attempts to reach railway helplines too failed, leaving the trio high and dry. Unrelenting, Vijesh tried to lodge a complaint with Railway authorities in Bhopal (MP) and subsequently in Kazipet (Telanagana) but even there the authorities concerned turned a blind eye.
When Vijesh finally reached Mysuru, he took up the matter with local railway authorities. Instead of paying attention to his request, they told him to get back to Ujjain to lodge a complaint citing jurisdictional restrictions.
After running out of all options, Vijesh finally approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Mysuru on 23 June 2017 and lodged a complaint against South Western Railways (SWR) Divisional Manager, Mysuru and Divisional Commercial Manager.
Complainant Vijesh argued the case himself in the court and sought a relief of Rs 3,32,597 from Railways.
Vijesh also submitted photographs of the overcrowded compartment during the course of his family’s journey to substantiate his claim.
Opposing Vijesh’s claim, the railways sought the court to dismiss the plea again on territorial jurisdictional grounds.
Giving relief to complainant Vijesh, the court passed the order asking the railway to pay Rs 37,000 as compensation including Rs 10,000 for the emotional turmoil inflicted on the hapless family and Rs 2000 towards expenses incurred.
