Indian Railways Ordered To Pay INR 20,000 Compensation After Passengers With Confirmed Berths Forced To Travel Standing

A consumer court in Bihar has held Indian Railways accountable for failing to provide confirmed reserved berths to passengers, directing the railway authorities to pay compensation after four travellers were allegedly forced to complete their journey standing despite holding valid reserved tickets.

The Bhojpur Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the Railways to pay INR 20,000 as compensation for mental, physical and financial harassment suffered by the passengers. The commission also directed the refund of the ticket fare amounting to INR 1,876.80 with 8% annual interest, along with INR 15,000 towards litigation costs.

The case stemmed from a journey on the LTT Patna Express from Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh to Ara in Bihar. According to the complaint, the passengers discovered that their confirmed berths were occupied by railway staff when they boarded the train. Despite repeated requests, the berths were allegedly not vacated, forcing the passengers to travel without seats. India’s 1st Hydrogen Fuel Train Approved: Indian Railways to Launch 10-Car Hydrogen-Powered Train on Jind-Sonipat Route.

The complainants claimed they attempted to raise the issue through official railway grievance channels, including Railway Seva, the Rail Ministry's social media platforms, and the railway helpline. Although complaint reference numbers were generated, they alleged that no effective action had been taken during the journey.

The passengers further stated that they approached a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Buxar station but were reportedly told to "manage" due to overcrowding on the train. ‘98 Stations, 8 Vande Bharat Trains’: Indian Railways Transforming Bihar Under PM Narendra Modi’s Leadership, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Informs Parliament (Watch Videos).

In its defence, Indian Railways argued that the matter involved law and order concerns and therefore fell under the jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police (GRP). The railway administration also denied any deficiency in service and maintained that necessary action had been taken on the complaints.

However, after examining the tickets, complaint records, SMS acknowledgements and photographic evidence submitted by the passengers, the commission concluded that the railway authorities had failed to provide the promised service. The bench observed that the passengers had been subjected to unnecessary hardship despite possessing confirmed reservations.

The commission also stated that if the ordered compensation is not paid within 60 days, the complainants would be entitled to recover the amount with 10% annual interest through legal proceedings.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 29, 2026 06:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).