KESHO DASS Vs. NORTHERN RAILWAY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Parturbed by the judgment of the District Forum, Sangrur dated November 18, 1 996 vide which his complaint has been dismissed, the complainant has filed the present appeal before this Commission.

(2.) Facts in brief, relevant, significant and sufficient are to be noticed first. It has been stated in the complaint that on 11.3.1995 complainant purchased one B. P. T. Ticket No.695339 for Rs.552/- (Rupees five hundred and fifty two only) from Dhuri Railway Station for journey from Dhuri to Bangalore for himself and his wife-Smt. Pukhraj Rani and at the Railway Station, Dhuri reservation for two berths in sleeper class was applied for on 11.3.1995 itself and the reservation sought was from New Delhi to Manmad in Karnataka Express-2628 for 22.3.1995 and Manmad to Bangalore City in the same train- 2628 for 25.3.1995.

(3.) On the repeated enquiries being made from Railway Station, Dhuri he was told that message/requisition has been sent to Delhi and the complainant would get berths confirmed at Delhi. He accompanied by his wife and grand son for whom the ticket was purchased later boarded the Intercity Express-4590 at 6.50 a. m. on 22.3.1995 and reached at New Delhi. At reaching there the tickets were presented at New Delhi Computer Centre (IRCA Building) for getting the reservation. The reservation staff searched and verified their record and found that no message/requisition has been received from Dhuri Railway Station and a note to that effect was given on the back of the ticket by the reservation staff at New Delhi 'message not received. ' Because no current reservation was available, they have no option except to deposit ticket for refund and to come back to Dhuri. They boarded 2005 Shatabadi Express at 1715 hours on 22.3.1995 holding three tickets and at Ambala they got the next available train at 2330 hours (4587-Kalka-Jodhpur Train) and reached back Dhuri at 2.20 a. m. on 23.3.1995. The complainant lodged complaints dated 22.2.1995 (Annexure C-5), 16.3.1995 (Annexure C-6), 21.3.1995 (Annexure C-7) and 25.3.1995 (Annexure C-8 ).