Death or injury while boarding or de-boarding train entitles passenger to compensation: SC

The Supreme Court of India on May 9, 2018 held that railways will be liable to pay compensation to passengers in case of death or injury while boarding and de-boarding trains.

The court stated that death or injury while boarding or de-boarding a train is an untoward incident which entitles a passenger to compensation and will not be considered his negligence.  The ruling was given by a two-judge bench comprising Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Rohinton F Nariman.

Other Details

• The court held that the mere presence of a body on railway premises will not be enough to convince that the injured or deceased was a genuine passenger and is entitled for compensation.

• It, however, clarified that the absence of ticket on an injured or deceased will not cancel out his/her right to compensation. In this case, the petitioner would have to prove his case by providing the required documents.

• The court made it clear that the railways will not be able to avoid paying compensation citing negligence on the part of passengers.

Background

The judgment came on an appeal filed by the Centre, which had approached the apex court against an order by the Patna High Court that awarded a compensation of 4 lakh rupees to the wife of a person who fell down from a train due to rush of passengers and died on the spot on August 20, 2002.

The high court had set aside the railway tribunal's order by taking into consideration the statement of an eye witness who had filed an affidavit stating that the deceased had purchased the ticket and had boarded the train.

The tribunal had dismissed the claim on the ground that it was not a case of "untoward incident" but a case of "run over" and that the deceased was not a bona fide passenger.

Read More Current Affairs