SHAKTI BHAWAN CHAIRMAN Vs. OM PARKASH PAUL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Revision petition is filed against the order dated 12.8.1997 passed by the State Commission, Andhra Pradesh in F.A. No. 392 of 1996 and F.A. No. 603 of 1996 directing the petitioners, G.M., South Central Railways, Secunderabad to pay Rs. 15,000 towards compensation along with costs of Rs. 2,000 to be paid to the respondents/complainants V. Nirmala and V. Suryanarayana.

(2.) Brief facts of the case are : The complainants V. Nirmala and her husband V. Suryanarayana purchased 2nd class sleeper tickets with reservation from Aurangabad to Hyderabad to travel on 24.3.1993 i.e., for journey from Aurangabad to Jalna by "Daund Passenger" and from Jalna to Hyderabad by the connecting train, "Ajanta Express". The Daund Passenger left Aurangabad 90 minutes late and arrived at Jalna on 25.3.1993 late by 1 hour and 40 minutes. The scheduled arrival of "Daud Passenger" at Jalna was 22.45 hrs. whereas it arrived at Jalna only at 1.10 hours. The departure time of the Ajanta Express from Jalna to Hyderabad was at 23.20 hrs. Due to this delay, the complainant missed the connecting train the "Ajanta Express" which left Jalna to Hyderabad at 23.20 hrs. and around 200 passengers were stranded that night at Jalna Railway Station.

(3.) The complainants alleged that while they were to await the departure of "Ellora Express" there was no sufficient accommodation in the waiting room and that the Station Master did not allow them even to sleep in the Ellora Express which was stationed in the platform. It was only after a lot of persuasion, they were allowed to sleep in Ellora Express initially without lights and fans and that it was after a lot of fight, the Station Master permitted the lights to be switched on in the said train. The first complainant V. Nirmala was a patient of Thromobophlebitis and suffered strain and hardship which resulted in abortion of three months pregnancy. The complainants filed a complaint in the District Forum-II, Hyderabad alleging deficiency of service against the opposite parties and claimed compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the hardship they suffered due to delay and for not providing sufficient facilities to the passengers.