Railways To Pay Rs 15000 Fine To Man For Non Functioning AC In Train Compartment
In June 2012, during the 30-hour journey from Kopargaon to Jalandhar Cantt in Maharashtra, Jhelum Express did not have air conditioner in Ish Sharma’s AC-3 bogie. For this reason he had to suffer a lot with two young children and wife. For this, the railways will now have to pay a fine of 15 thousand rupees to Sharma. In this regard, the NCDRC has kept the order of the Punjab Consumer Commission.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) rejected the appeal of Indian Railways for this. Earlier, on the application of Sharma, the Punjab Consumer Commission imposed a fine of Rs 15 thousand on the railway on March 1, 2016. It was said that despite taking AC ticket, the family had to face unbearable hardship during the 30-hour long journey in the summer due to not being able to run the air conditioner. Due to negligence, the railway harassed the passenger. Against this order, the Railway had knocked the NCDRC door in 2017.
While rejecting the petition, the top consumer court said that despite getting the certified copy of the order of the State Commission on April 13, 2016, the Railways imposed 177 days of inexplicable delay in filing a reconsideration petition. It reflects the gross negligence of officers of government departments like Railways. This delay is not apologetic.
NCRC presidium member Rekha Gupta said, “I am not going to forgive this mistake of the railway. Because if it is forgiven then it will be more harassment to the passenger . Sharma and his family have already suffered unbearable hardship during the 30-hour long journey in the summer months. Railways have to pay a fine.”