C Rly penalised for lack of basic amenities in Amritsar-Bilaspur Chattisgarh Express

C Rly penalised for lack of basic amenities in Amritsar-Bilaspur Chattisgarh Express

                                                  

THE District Consumer Redressal Forum of Gondia has imposed penalty of Rs 20.000 and Rs 10,000 towards court fees on Central Railway administration vide its order dated August 30 for not providing water, light and TTE in Amritsar Bilaspur Chattisgarh Express. After conducting the hearing on the complaint of Adv. Sudhir Rathod of Gondia . the bench of forum's Atul D Aalashi. Chairman. Waman V Chaudhari and Varsha O Patil (both members) ordered the verdict. As per details Rathod boarded Chaitisgarh Express S-11 coach from Habibganj station On 3 November 2013 at 7.45 pm. He was shocked lo find the coach without light. Moreover there was no water facility available in coach and TTE on duty was also missing. Rathod was informed by other copasscngers that they were also facing in convienence. On reaching Itarsi Railway Station, he complained to with one of TTEs. who informed that water will be filled and light will repaired at Nagpur station. However neither water was filled nor the light was repaired. At the end of his travel, aggrieved Rathod made a written complaint to the Station Master at Gondia . next day on November 4 but was annoyed as no satisfactory reply from railway administration was given.Following this Rathod filed a complained 10 District Consumer Redrcssal Forum's Gondia bench demanding compensation for mental harassment. In the meantime Rathod got reply from railways in response to his RTI application, in which railway admitted that due to shortage there was no TTE in coach number S - 1.2.3.7.11 and 12 and accepted that no water was filled in coach II. Me provided the reply to the consumer forum. After going through the evidences and hearing both the sides, forum's bench headed by Atul Aalashi vide order dated 30 August 2014 directed the railways to release compensation of Rs.20.000 with 12 per cent interest and Rs 10.000 towards court fee. In the judgement forum held . it was proved that there was no water, light and TTE in the coach and this comes under definition of "Deficiency in service" and in absence of staff, the complainant was prevented of registering his complaint.
Referring   to "Citizens Charter on Passengers Services of Indian Railways", the bench held that Railway Administration is committed 10 provide a) Safe and dependable train services, b) ensure adequate passenger amenities in train. on board train lighting, cushioned berths and water, d) TTEs conductors should also be available to attend complaints grievances of passengers. And since in case of Rathod as railways had failed to provide the basic amenities 10 passenger which amounted to deficiency in service. The bench also cited the decision rendered by New Delhi State Consumer rcdrcssal Forum in the case of Northern Railways and Prakash Chandra, the court awarded compensation of Rs.20.000 and Rs 10.000 towards the court fee.
Rathod argued for himself with his lawyer Adv Sumeet Rajankar. He said that by effectively using the provision of RTI. every citizen can make Government department accountable for providing timely services to general public.

Posted in: News 2014