Indian Railways has been directed by apex consumer commission to give Rs. 10 lakh as compensation to widow of an elderly man who was found unconscious onboard a Delhi-bound train due to being allegedly drugged and looted by unknown co-passengers and who died due to “negligence, inaction and passivity” on part of TTE and other officials.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission also directed the Divisional Railway Manager, Northern Railway, Muradabad, Uttar Pradesh to conduct an inquiry against the doctor at Ghaziabad, Conductor, TTE and Assistant/ Attendant of the train.
“This is a case of negligence, inaction and passivity on the part of the Railway authorities. The Indian Railways Commercial Manual enjoins upon the Railways to secure medical assistance to sick passengers. No explanation is forthcoming as to why the train did not halt at Ghaziabad?
“Had medical aid been given to the patient at Ghaziabad Station itself, it could have saved the precious life of the deceased. It is well said that ‘a stitch in time, saves nine’
What are the duties of train conductor/coach attendant and the TTE? All of them were sleeping and did not do the needful,” a bench of Justice J.M. Malik and NCDRC member S.M. Kantikar said.
The NCDRC also directed that the inquiry report be submitted to it on or before April 1 next year, adding, .
“Disobedience shall tantamount to contempt of court.”
The order came on a plea of south Delhi resident Nirmal Devi Chopra seeking compensation for death of her husband R.C. Joshi, then 65, who was travelling in Lucknow mail to Delhi on the intervening night of December 21-22, 1998.
Chopra had alleged that her husband was drugged and looted by three fellow passengers who were illegally issued tickets by the TTE and the railway staff on board the train.
She alleged that no medical aid was given to the victim on the way even as the train stopped at Ghaziabad.
