9 hrs train delay; passenger gets Rs 35,000 relief
On 23rd September 2024, passenger Sanjay Kumar booked two sleeper class tickets for a journey from Tatanagar to Sambalpur on the 12871 ISPAT Express. However, the train was delayed by nearly nine hours, arriving over an hour later than scheduled. Kumar filed a consumer complaint against South Eastern Railway and East Coast Railway for the inconvenience he faced.
The Seraikella-Kharsawan District Consumer Commission in Jharkhand ruled in Kumar's favor, ordering the railways to pay him Rs 30,000 in compensation and Rs 5,000 for litigation costs. This compensation was granted despite Kumar not providing proof of financial loss, as the commission ruled that the delay constituted harassment.
The railways contested the case, arguing that consumer commissions should not hear such disputes and that Kumar had failed to prove financial loss. However, the commission dismissed these objections, citing a Supreme Court ruling that railways are liable for delays unless caused by uncontrollable factors. The commission also noted that public transport must improve to compete with private services.
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