New Delhi: Observing negligence and deficiency in services on the part of the Indian Railway, a consumer commission has ordered its concerned managing director to pay over Rs 1.08 lakh to a passenger whose luggage was stolen during a journey.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Central District) was hearing the complaint that the passenger's bag containing valuables worth Rs 80,000 was stolen by unauthorized passengers in January 2016 between Jhansi and Gwalior when He was traveling in a reserved carriage of the Malwa Express.
"It was the duty of the railways to ensure safe and comfortable travel as well as the security of passengers' belongings," the complaint said.
The commission, comprising its chairman Inder Jeet Singh and member Rashmi Bansal, said it had territorial jurisdiction to try the case as the complainant boarded the train from New Delhi and there was "a continuity of journey" till his arrival in Indore.
Further, the office of the opposite party (General Manager, Indian Railway) was situated within the jurisdiction of the commission, he said in an order passed on June 3.
The commission rejected the railroads' argument that the plaintiff was negligent with his belongings and that the luggage was not reserved.
Noting that the complainant was made to "run from pillar to post to register an FIR", the commission said: "The manner in which the episode occurred and the valuables were stolen, followed by the efforts of the complainant to register the FIR in the authorities for the corresponding investigation or investigation, he suffered all kinds of inconveniences and harassment to assert his legal rights.”
He said the complainant had filed her case against Indian Railway for negligence and deficiency in service as his belongings kept in a bag were stolen during his journey with a booked ticket.
"If there had not been negligence or deficiency in services on the part of the opposing party or its personnel, there would be no such incident. There is no other defense or evidence to deny the value of the items that the author was transporting during her trip." Therefore, the complainant is entitled to a refund for the loss of Rs 80,000," the commission said.
He also awarded him Rs 20,000 as compensation for suffering inconvenience, harassment and mental agony, besides Rs 8,000 towards litigation costs.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Central District) was hearing the complaint that the passenger's bag containing valuables worth Rs 80,000 was stolen by unauthorized passengers in January 2016 between Jhansi and Gwalior when He was traveling in a reserved carriage of the Malwa Express.
"It was the duty of the railways to ensure safe and comfortable travel as well as the security of passengers' belongings," the complaint said.
The commission, comprising its chairman Inder Jeet Singh and member Rashmi Bansal, said it had territorial jurisdiction to try the case as the complainant boarded the train from New Delhi and there was "a continuity of journey" till his arrival in Indore.
Further, the office of the opposite party (General Manager, Indian Railway) was situated within the jurisdiction of the commission, he said in an order passed on June 3.
The commission rejected the railroads' argument that the plaintiff was negligent with his belongings and that the luggage was not reserved.
Noting that the complainant was made to "run from pillar to post to register an FIR", the commission said: "The manner in which the episode occurred and the valuables were stolen, followed by the efforts of the complainant to register the FIR in the authorities for the corresponding investigation or investigation, he suffered all kinds of inconveniences and harassment to assert his legal rights.”
He said the complainant had filed her case against Indian Railway for negligence and deficiency in service as his belongings kept in a bag were stolen during his journey with a booked ticket.
"If there had not been negligence or deficiency in services on the part of the opposing party or its personnel, there would be no such incident. There is no other defense or evidence to deny the value of the items that the author was transporting during her trip." Therefore, the complainant is entitled to a refund for the loss of Rs 80,000," the commission said.
He also awarded him Rs 20,000 as compensation for suffering inconvenience, harassment and mental agony, besides Rs 8,000 towards litigation costs.
