Supreme Court: Railways Cannot Deny Compensation Just Because Victim Boarded the Wrong Train
The Supreme Court has held that Indian Railways cannot refuse compensation simply because an accident victim mistakenly boarded a wrong train. The Court ordered the payment of ₹ 8 lakh (with 9% interest) to the parents of a deceased passenger under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, rejecting the Railways’ argument of negligence.
Key Points:
The victim had a valid ticket for a journey, but boarded a different train that did not stop at his destination. The Railways claimed he was negligent and tried to deboard from the moving train.
The Court found no proof from the Railways that the deceased jumped off intentionally. It called their defense “a plea without proof” and noted that the DRM (Divisional Railway Manager) report did not support their version.
The bench held that “merely because the deceased had boarded a wrong train, it cannot be construed that he was not a bona fide passenger.”
The Supreme Court emphasized that procedural or technical lapses should not defeat legitimate claims under the railways’ compensation regime.
