In a country where delayed trains are almost treated as a way of life, few expect the clock to ever turn against the Railways. One hour late, five hours late, most passengers shrug and move on. But this time, a delay of just two and a half hours proved costly. Indian Railways has been ordered to pay ₹9.1 lakh in compensation, not merely for a late train, but for a missed future and a legal fight that stretched over seven long years.
A missed exam and a delayed train
The incident took place in the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh. For local resident Samriddhi Singh, May 7, 2018, was meant to be a dream-fulfilling day. She had her NEET examination at Jai Narayan PG College in Lucknow, the first step towards becoming a doctor.
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She had bought a ticket for the Intercity Superfast train from Basti to Lucknow. The train was scheduled to reach Lucknow at 11 AM, while her reporting time at the examination centre was 12:30 PM. This meant she had an extra hour and a half in hand.
However, on that day, the ‘Superfast’ train failed to live up to its name. When the train finally reached Lucknow’s Charbagh station, the clock showed 1:34 PM. By then, Samriddhi’s reporting time for the NEET examination had already passed. Getting down at the station, the student broke down in tears. In that moment, an entire academic year slipped away before her eyes.
Seven years of legal battle and the verdict
After the initial shock, Samriddhi approached railway authorities seeking answers about the delay and the loss of a crucial year of her life. However, she did not receive any satisfactory response from either the Railway Ministry or the Station Superintendent. Eventually, in September 2018, she approached the District Consumer Commission.
The case continued for seven long years. During the hearings, railway authorities admitted that the train was delayed but failed to provide any specific or reasonable explanation for the delay.
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Recently, the Consumer Commission delivered its verdict. Commission President Justice Amarjit Verma and member Ajay Prakash Singh observed that the mental agony suffered by the student due to the railways’ negligence and the damage caused to her academic career could not be ignored.
The commission ordered Indian Railways to pay ₹9 lakh as compensation, along with an additional ₹10 thousand towards legal expenses. It further stated that if the amount is not paid within 45 days, the railways will have to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent.
The verdict serves as a reminder that major losses caused by train delays should not be dismissed as routine inconvenience, and seeking accountability can make public services more responsible.
