The Indian Railways has been ordered to pay a hefty amount of Rs 98,000 to a passenger as compensation.
The District Consumer Forum in Bhopal has issued the order while hearing a claim of one Avinash Tiwari, a resident of E-8 Arera Colony.
As per reports, Tiwari had booked a AC-3 coach for 63 passengers from Bhopal to Vijaywada and back to Bhopal from Vijaywada. He had paid Rs 2,81,520 as ticket charges.
Reportedly, during return, his AC coach was to be added to the Southern Express from Kazipet. However, as the train already had 24 coaches, (the maximum coach addition limit in India) his coach could not be added.
Tiwari reportedly talked to the station master but noting fruitful happened and his coach was put on the side track. He was later told that his coach could be added to another train, scheduled to arrive after 15 hours.
The plaintiff and other passengers had to face inconvenience in during the return journey.
Later, according to Times of India, Tiwari sought a compensation of Rs 3 lakh for deficiency in service leading to their journey, which the railways had promised to be comfortable and without any glitches.
The forum has reportedly told the railways to pay the plaintiff Rs 50,000 for deficiency in service, Rs 25,000 for mental harassment, Rs 20,000 towards additional expenditure that he had to bear because of delay in arriving to Bhopal, and Rs 3,000 towards litigation cost.
In case, the India Railways delay in paying the plaintiff by 2 months, the national transporter will have to pay interest on the amount at the rate of 9 per cent.