“GRP & RPF Must Have Valid Travel Authority For Official Train Travel”: Tribunal

GRP and RPF personnel must obtain travel authority or purchase a ticket for train travel, carrying only an ID card is insufficient, the Railway Claims Tribunal ruled while dismissing a compensation plea by a constable who claimed to be on official duty when he fell off a train.

The Ahmedabad bench of the tribunal highlighted the “negligent attitude of Railway” concerning a circular on issuing duty card passes to Government Railway Police personnel required to travel frequently.

GRP constable Rajesh Bagul sought Rs 8 lakh compensation with interest from the Railway, claiming he was on official duty on the day of the accident. Bagul went to the Surat railway police station for official duty on November 13, 2019. While returning from Surat to Bharuch on the Surat-Jamnagar intercity train, he fell off at Palej station, resulting in severe injuries to his left leg, leading to its amputation above the knee.

Tribunal Member (Judicial) Vinay Goel dismissed the petition, noting Bagul failed to provide any valid travel authority to prove his official travel claims. “In the absence of a valid travel authority, the applicant cannot be treated as a bonafide passenger,” the bench observed, emphasizing the importance of following the circular regarding travel authority for GRP and Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials.

The Railway cited a lack of documentary evidence supporting Bagul’s claim of being on official duty on the day of the accident, suggesting he might have fallen while trying to deboard the train after it passed the station where he intended to alight. Without a ticket or valid travel authority, the Railway argued it was not liable to pay any compensation for the self-inflicted injury.

The tribunal’s order, dated July 30, labeled it a “serious issue” that the Railway failed to take proper defense in light of the circular regarding the issuance of duty card passes to GRP personnel. The tribunal criticized the Railway’s negligent attitude, stating, “Nobody can be allowed to travel on the train without proper and valid travel authority. If a person travels without proper travel authority, he cannot be treated as a bonafide passenger.”

The bench clarified that even those on official duty must obtain proper travel authority from a competent authority or purchase a ticket. An identity card alone cannot be considered a travel authority.

The tribunal ordered that a copy of the ruling be sent to the General Manager, Western Railway, Mumbai, for circulation among all stakeholders “to meticulously follow Railway circulars about travel authority to GRP and RPF officials so that such incidents may be avoided in the future.”

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