Basti Consumer Court Orders Railways to Pay Rs 9.10 Lakh Compensation for Train Delay That Cost Student Her Entrance Exam
In a landmark ruling that underscores the accountability of public transport services, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Basti has directed the Indian Railways to pay Rs 9.10 lakh as compensation to a local student. This decision comes after a protracted seven-year legal battle stemming from a train delay in May 2018 that caused the student to miss her crucial university entrance examination.
The Fateful Journey and Missed Opportunity
The complainant, Samriddhi, was just 17 years old at the time and fresh out of school. She had meticulously prepared throughout the year for her BSc Biotechnology entrance exam at Lucknow University, a course exclusively offered by LU back then. On May 7, 2018, she embarked on a journey from Basti station, boarding the Intercity Superfast train with a ticket to Lucknow. Her destination was the exam center at Jai Narayan PG College in the state capital.
Her father, advocate Ravi Pratap Singh, recounted the distressing events. "The train, which originates from Gorakhpur and terminates at Lucknow, was almost on time when it reached Basti at 6.55 am. We boarded it promptly, but it encountered excessive stoppages enroute. Instead of arriving at Lucknow by 11 am as scheduled, we reached at 1.34 pm," he said. Despite desperate pleas at the exam center, officials refused to allow Samriddhi to take the test, leaving her in tears and inconsolable over the lost opportunity.
The Long Legal Struggle for Justice
Having lost an entire academic year due to this incident, Samriddhi, represented by her lawyer father, sent a legal notice to the Railways in May 2018, claiming Rs 20 lakh in compensation. However, the authorities did not respond to these notices. This lack of response compelled the aggrieved party to approach the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Basti in September 2018, initiating a lengthy legal process.
During subsequent hearings, the Railways acknowledged the train delay but failed to provide any satisfactory explanation for the cause of the disruption. This admission played a crucial role in the court's deliberations.
Court's Verdict and Compensation Order
After hearing both sides, the president of the district consumer court, Judge Amarjeet Verma, and member Ajay Prakash Singh delivered their verdict earlier last week. They ruled that the Railways had failed to provide timely service, a fundamental expectation from a public utility. The court ordered the Railways to pay Rs 9.10 lakh as compensation to Samriddhi within 45 days. Failure to comply would result in an additional 12% interest on the amount.
This ruling not only provides financial redress but also sets a precedent for holding transport authorities accountable for service failures that impact critical life events like educational examinations.
Life Moves On, But the Scar Remains
In the years since the incident, Samriddhi has moved forward with her academic pursuits. She has completed her MSc in Organic Chemistry from SS Khanna College in Prayagraj and is now preparing for her PhD in the same field. However, her father emphasized that this progress does not diminish the significance of the lost year. "But this does not belittle the fact that her one year was wasted because of the Railways' laxity," he stated, highlighting the enduring impact of the delay on her educational trajectory.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of infrastructural inefficiencies and the importance of robust consumer protection mechanisms in safeguarding citizens' rights against institutional negligence.
