Indian Railways is responsible for the safe travel of its passengers and their luggage too.
In a landmark judgement passed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi,in the appeal preferred by the Railways as against the orders of the District Consumer Dsiputes Redressal Forum, the appeal was dismissed confirming the order of the District Forum.
A passenger Sanjeev Dev who travelled in the Juna Nagar- Ahamadabad Train by availing berth fecility with advance reservation system,had found his suit kept under his bed was found missing.
Immediately Sanjeev Dev preferred a complaint to the Railway Police force and the railways responded with the reply that for the missing of the personal belongings of the travelling passengers, the Railways could not be held responsible.
Sanjeev Dev preferred a complaint against the Railways in the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, which allowed the complaint directing the Railway Department to pay Rs 15,000/- towards compensation to the complaint along with Rs 1,000/- towards cost of the complaint.
As against the order, the Indian Railways preferred an appeal in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi, which dismissed the appeal confirming the order lower Forum.
The significance of the order is that the Sanjeev Dev, having reserved a berth could not be treated as an ordinary passenger along with others in the general compartment, since he had paid consideration for reservation of berth and so it was the responsibility of the Railways to safeguard both the passenger and his luggage in the course of the travel.
Certainly the above order is a landmark judgement and an eye opener as far as the railways is concerned and the passengers who travel by reserving a berth also gets ensured their safe travel along with their luggage.
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