Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010551960400.htm

New Delhi

Passenger moves High Court against Railways

Staff Reporter

For providing food and water or payment of damages in case the trains are more than two hours late

NEW DELHI: A railway passenger here has moved the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Railways for providing food and water free or payment of damages to passengers in case of their being inconvenienced in the event of trains getting more than two hours late.

The petitioner, Ramnath Garg, filed the petition through his lawyer Sugriv Dubey following his bad experience during a journey to Ranchi on Ranchi Rajdhani which ran six hours late on December 26 last year.

Several trains these days are running late due to foggy weather conditions prevailing in North India.

In his submission, he alleged that the pantry car in the train had run short of food items and water and the coaches were littered with garbage. Though the Railways make available these items free to passengers in Rajdhani trains but they were not available on that particular date even on payment of money.

He said that the conditions in the toilets were unbearable as they remained unattended for hours together due to the train running late.

He submitted that Section 15 of the Railway Act provides for payment of damages to passengers if any losses was caused to them, and the Railways should be directed to compensate them under the relevant provision.

The petitioner mentioned the petition before a Vacation Bench of the Court which posted it on January 7 when the Court reopens after the winter vacation.