In a landmark decision for passenger rights, a district consumer disputes redressal commission in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, has directed Indian Railways to pay ₹9.10 lakh to a student who missed her entrance exam because of a delayed train.
The case, spanning seven years, highlights how service lapses can have long-term consequences on an individual’s academic and professional life.
The Incident: Missing a Crucial Exam
On May 7, 2018, Samriddhi, a 17-year-old resident of Basti district, was travelling to Lucknow for her BSc Biotechnology entrance exam at Jai Narayan PG College.
She boarded an intercity superfast train scheduled to arrive by 11 a.m., giving her enough time to reach the exam centre by 12:30 p.m.
However, the train was delayed by over two hours, causing her to miss the exam despite a year of rigorous preparation.
Legal Battle and Court Verdict
Samriddhi filed a complaint with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission after attempts to resolve the issue through railway authorities failed.
She had initially demanded ₹20 lakh in compensation for academic loss and emotional distress.
After reviewing the case, the commission ruled that Indian Railways failed to provide timely service and awarded ₹9.10 lakh to Samriddhi.
The amount must be paid within 45 days, failing which a 12% interest penalty will apply.
Significance for Passenger Rights
This ruling underscores that public service providers, including Indian Railways, can be held accountable for negligence that directly impacts individuals’ life opportunities.
While train delays are a common grievance, few cases have resulted in such substantial compensation.
Samriddhi has since completed her MSc in Organic Chemistry and is preparing for a PhD, but the judgement serves as justice for the opportunity lost due to circumstances beyond her control.
