⚡ Key Highlights & Quick Takeaways
- 16348 from Wadakkanchery to Thiruvananthapuram for July 30, 2023.
- When she approached the TTE, she was told her ticket was web cancelled.The TTE informed the petitioner that if she paid a fine of ₹500, she would be allotted another berth.
- However, she did not have ₹500 in cash.She pointed out that she had booked the ticket manually from Thiruvananthapuram railway station and it could not be cancelled online.
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed Railways to pay a compensation of ₹2 lakh to a woman who was evicted from a train in the middle of the night despite having a reservation ticket, arrested in the name of ticketless travel and let off on bail.
The commission comprising chairperson Alexander Thomas gave Railways a time of one month to pay the compensation to K. Jaya Smitha of Nelluvay, Thrissur district who was employed in Thiruvananthapuram.
Railway authorities could recover the compensation from erring officials after a comprehensive high-level inquiry, the commission said.
The petitioner had booked a ticket on train no. 16348 from Wadakkanchery to Thiruvananthapuram for July 30, 2023. However, she found her berth occupied. When she approached the TTE, she was told her ticket was web cancelled.
The TTE informed the petitioner that if she paid a fine of ₹500, she would be allotted another berth. However, she did not have ₹500 in cash.
She pointed out that she had booked the ticket manually from Thiruvananthapuram railway station and it could not be cancelled online. When she asked for the details of the person who cancelled the ticket, the TTE did not provide them to her. He warned her that if she did not pay the penalty, she would have to face the consequences. Her pleas to be allowed to continue her journey were rejected by the TTE, the petitioner said, alleging that the TTE misbehaved with her. When the train reached Aluva, she was removed by RPF personnel who recorded her arrest and let her off on bail.
On her complaint, Railways realised that there had been an error as her mobile number was incorrectly entered at the booking centre. The message related to ticket reservation went to another number and the person to whom the number belonged to cancelled the ticket online. Railways then advised the RPF not to proceed with the case. Following this, the case was dropped.
The commission chairperson pointed out that evicting a woman travelling alone on a train at midnight was a violation of Section 139 of the Railways Act.
The petitioner pointed out that she lost the government job where she was appointed on contract basis in the wake of the criminal case registered against her by the RPF.
The commission directed the petitioner to approach the government in this connection. The Minority Welfare department Director should take a decision on the petitioner’s application within a month, the commission said.
If the compensation was not paid within six weeks, the respondents should also pay an interest of 8% on the amount of ₹2 lakh.
It also directed Railways to issue a circular to TTEs and other officials, including RPF personnel, to comply with provisions of Sections 137 and 139 of the Railways Act, especially about strict enforcement of rights of women passengers for protection during night travel, the commission said.