October 17, 2025

On May 19, 2017, a man traveling from Indore to Ujjain by train met a tragic fate. His family said that due to overcrowding, he was pushed out of the moving train near pole number 15/21 in Ujjain district, causing fatal head injuries. The police closed the inquiry as an accidental fall, and the post-mortem report confirmed he died from severe bleeding and shock. His widow and minor son fought for justice by filing a claim for Rs 12 lakh compensation at the Railway Claims Tribunal in Bhopal. But the Tribunal dismissed their case in January 2023, saying they could not prove the man was a genuine passenger. No ticket was found on him or with his belongings. The photocopy of tickets provided was doubted since no seizure memo existed and the investigating officer was never called to testify. Records of where the accident happened also had inconsistencies. The family then appealed to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which in May 2024 agreed with the Tribunal, dismissing their plea, again stating lack of proof that the deceased was a bonafide passenger. Refusing to give up, the family moved to the Supreme Court. On October 8, 2025, the Supreme Court gave a fresh breath of hope by ordering the Railways to pay Rs 8 lakh as compensation. The Court made it clear that if Railways confirm a valid ticket was issued, that is enough proof the person was a real passenger. There is no need to chase lost tickets or seizure memos. Advocate Smriti Jaswal said, “This judgment pushes back against dismissing genuine claims on technicalities and reminds us these are about justice for families, not just paperwork.” The Supreme Court emphasized that railway accident compensation cases are welfare claims, not criminal trials. The Court criticized the earlier hard stance requiring strict paperwork and welcomed a compassionate, fair approach. It declared that an official railway report verifying the ticket is prima facie proof, shifting the burden to Railways to disprove travel. This ruling makes it easier for families to claim justice. The Court also cited previous landmark cases and said the Railway Claims Tribunal and High Court erred in rejecting the claim based on the absence of a ticket seizure memo. The initial affidavit by the widow and official Railway reports verified the ticket was indeed issued for May 19, 2017, from Indore to Ujjain. In its judgment, the Supreme Court stated: “Mere technical irregularities or lapses in procedure should not defeat a legitimate claim under a welfare statute like the Railways Act, 1989.” It ordered the Railways to pay Rs 8 lakh within eight weeks, with 6% interest for any delay. Legal expert Dipali Patel noted that this judgment also reflects the spirit of Article 21 of the Constitution, protecting the right to fair compensation. The ruling may encourage reopening of denied cases and prompt Railways to settle where evidence is reasonable, easing the path for many victims’ families. In the end, this Supreme Court ruling lights up the dark tunnel of harsh paperwork barriers and ensures that families who lose loved ones to tragic railway accidents get their rightful compensation with dignity and fairness.

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Tags: Railways act, Supreme court, Compensation, Railway accident, Passenger rights, Legal judgment,