The passenger had a reserved ticket to travel from Haripad to Chennai
Representational image
ALAPPUZHA: The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission last week fined the Railways Rs 50,000 for denying a passenger his journey to Chennai from Haripad despite having a reserved ticket. The incident took place on January 28 in 2012 when complainant P. J. Kurian, a pharmaceutical businessman here, could not
board the Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai Egmore Express as his compartment was locked from inside. The train was scheduled to arrive at 12.55 am and he was to attend an important business meeting in Chennai. When he reached the platform there was not enough light to read the coach number and he had to take a long walk to reach the reserved compartment.
There were neither railway protection force nor officials to assist him. Though he had managed to identify the compartment, he was not able to get into the train as the doors were locked. His efforts to draw attention of the passengers and TTE inside also failed and the train left the station without him.
Later, he complained with then minister of state for Railways Muniyappa but to no avail. He then moved the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum and got a favourable verdict on June 22 in 2012. The magistrate asked the Railways to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation and refund the ticket fare and other expenses calculated at Rs 2000.
But the Railways appealed in the State Consumer Court which too pronounced a verdict in his favour. The Railways then challenged it before the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum without success, his counsel Bijli Joseph said.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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