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Theft of passenger belongings – Railways cannot be held responsible – Order of reimburse the stolen amount of cash to the passenger set aside

Bysclaw

Jul 11, 2023

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

DIVISION BENCH

STATION SUPERINTENDENT AND ANOTHER — Appellant

Vs.

SURENDER BHOLA — Respondent

( Before : Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, JJ. )

Civil Appeal No.7116 of 2017

Decided on : 15-06-2023

Railways Service – Theft of passenger belongings – Railways cannot be held responsible – Order of reimburse the stolen amount of cash to the passenger set aside – Appeal allowed.

Counsel for Appearing Parties

Mr. Rajan Kumar Chourasia, Advocate, Mr. Merusagar Samantaray, Advocate, Ms. Sweksha, Advocate, Mr. Amrish Kumar, Advocate, Mrs. Anil Katiyar, Advocate, for the Appellant.

ORDER

1. Heard Mr. Rajan Kumar Chaurasia, learned counsel for the appellant.

2. Despite service of notice, no one appears for the respondent although the matter is pending for the last eight years.

3. The respondent raised a claim before the District Consumer Forum stating that while he was travelling in a train and was carrying Rs.1 lakh in cash in a belt tied around his waist, the same got stolen and as such the Railways should reimburse the said loss.

4. The District Consumer Forum allowed the same by awarding Rs.1 lakh to be paid by the appellant(s). The State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission dismissed the appeal(s).

5. We fail to understand as to how the theft could be said to be in any way a deficiency in service by the Railways. If the passenger is not able to protect his own belongings, the Railways cannot be held responsible.

6. Accordingly, we allow the appeal and set aside the orders passed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and the District Consumer Forum.

By sclaw

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