If any luggage is not handed over to railway administration against a proper receipt, the Railways will not be responsible for any theft or loss of the luggage, says the State Consumer Redressal Commission
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Consumer Redressal Commission has observed that if any luggage is not handed over to railway administration against a proper receipt, the Railways will not be responsible for any theft or loss of the luggage, reports PTI.
The commission was hearing an appeal filed by a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Central Railway against the order of the district consumer redressel forum which had directed the DRM to pay Rs1.35 lakhs to US resident Anagha Prasanna Walimbe for loss of her gold ornaments.
"It is not stated anywhere that the suitcase containing ornaments was under lock and key and when it was opened after leaving Pune railway station and reaching residence," the bench presided by commission member SR Khanzode observed recently.
Khanzode also observed that the complaint of theft lodged with the Railway Police was closed and made final as ornaments were not traceable.
In the absence of any cognate evidence placed on record by Walimbe, the railway administration shall not be held responsible for negligence or rendering deficient service to provide security/ protection to the luggage in the custody of the passenger, though travelling on a reserved ticket.
The Solapur district consumer forum had directed the railways to pay Rs1.35 lakhs along with 9% interest after Walimbe filed a complaint saying that she travelled in the reserved second class on 25 December 1998 from Solapur to Pune.
In her complaint, she said her luggage was kept under lock and key with her and after reaching Pune railway station, she took an autorickshaw to reach home. When she verified her luggage at night she found that her gold ornaments were missing from the suitcase.
She filed a case with the Railway police the next day.
Walimbe had alleged deficiency in service on the part of the railway administration and said there was no police bandobast or ticket collector to take care of her belongings of the passengers.
However, railways said she did not deposit her luggage with the administration. Accordingly, she did not take a receipt.
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