Theft During Train Journey Not A Deficiency In Railway Service: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently observed that theft incidents occurring during train rides do not constitute a deficiency in service by the Railways.

A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah stressed that passengers cannot seek reimbursement from the Indian Railways for any lost belongings while traveling on trains.

The bench made the above observation while setting aside the decision of a consumer court that had directed the Railways to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation to a claimant who had lost the mentioned amount of money during a train journey.

“We fail to understand as to how the theft could be said to be in any way a deficiency in service by the Railways. If the passenger is not able to protect his own belongings, the Railways cannot be held responsible,” the bench stated.

A District Consumer Forum had previously granted compensation to the claimant, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, after the cash kept in a waist-secured belt was stolen.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission upheld the ruling of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on 12^th June, 2015, which had dismissed an appeal against the District Forum’s order.

Subsequently, the matter was brought before the Apex Court, which has now set aside the earlier orders issued by the consumer forums.