Passenger Awarded Rs 30,000 by Indian Railways Due to Unclean Toilet
Passenger Awarded Rs 30,000 by Indian Railways Due to Unclean Toilet
A district consumer commission has ordered Indian Railways to pay Rs 30,000 to a passenger after he experienced discomfort during his trip from Tirupati to Duvvada in Vizag.
The South Central Railway (SCR) must compensate the 55-year-old man with Rs 25,000 for the physical and mental stress caused by inadequate facilities, plus Rs 5,000 for legal expenses.
V Murthy had booked four 3AC tickets for himself and his family on the Tirumala express train but was informed of a change from coach B-7 to 3E. On June 5, 2023, after boarding, Murthy found there was no water in the toilet, the coach’s air conditioning was malfunctioning, and the coach was dirty. Despite reporting these issues in Duvvada, no action was taken.
The railways contended that Murthy’s complaints were unfounded and aimed at obtaining money, asserting that he and his family completed their journey using the services provided.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-I in Visakhapatnam stated that the railways must provide essential facilities such as working toilets and air conditioning, as they collect fares and guarantee a comfortable journey for passengers. The commission observed that the railways recognized Murthy’s complaint by sending staff to resolve the toilet’s water issue, which was caused by an airlock due to a technical fault. Additionally, the commission pointed out that the train was operating without ensuring that basic amenities were checked.
