Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 30: The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Indian Railways to pay Rs 25,000 in compensation to a passenger who was forced to share a blanket with a stranger during a train journey, holding the national transporter guilty of deficiency in service.
In its order dated July 29, the commission awarded Rs 20,000 as compensation for mental harassment and physical inconvenience, along with Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses.
The bench, comprising commission president Monika Aggarwal Srivastava and members Rajender Dhar and Ritu Garodia, observed that the passenger, who travelled on a Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) ticket, was entitled to separate linen despite sharing a berth with another passenger.
The case relates to a journey from Prayagraj to Delhi in October 2022. The complainant alleged that the train attendant provided only one blanket, one pillow and two bedsheets for two unrelated passengers sharing an RAC berth. Despite requesting separate blankets and pillows, he was reportedly told that only one set was provided for shared RAC berths.
The passenger later raised the issue on social media and shared his PNR details with railway authorities. Although he was subsequently given a towel, his request for separate blankets and pillows remained unfulfilled.
After submitting written complaints and seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act without satisfactory resolution, the passenger approached the consumer commission seeking compensation.
Railways contested the complaint, arguing that bedrolls had been supplied according to prescribed norms. It also questioned the commission's territorial jurisdiction and maintained that additional blankets were provided only on request and subject to availability. The national transporter further stated that onboard linen services were managed by a private contractor.
However, the commission referred to a 2009 Railway Board circular, which states that RAC passengers are entitled to blankets and bedsheets as the cost of bedrolls is included in the fare. It noted that both parties agreed the complainant had shared the berth with an unrelated passenger and had received only one blanket and one pillow.
The commission also observed that Railways had imposed a Rs 1,000 penalty on the linen contractor over the incident but neither informed the complainant nor offered him compensation. It further noted that Railways had failed to place any evidence on record proving that a separate bedroll had been provided.
Holding Railways responsible for deficiency in service, the commission directed it to pay the compensation within 60 days. It added that failure to comply within the stipulated period would attract interest at the rate of seven per cent per annum.