NCDRC

NCDRC

RP/85/2013

UNION OF INDIA THROUGH CHAIMAN, RAILWAY BOARD - Complainant(s)

Versus

NIVA AGRAWAL - Opp.Party(s)

MR. R.V. SINHA

04 Mar 2014

ORDER

NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION
NEW DELHI
 
REVISION PETITION NO. 85 OF 2013
 
(Against the Order dated 28/09/2012 in Appeal No. 154/2008 of the State Commission Bihar)
WITH
IA/153/2013,IA/154/2013,IA/5452/2013
1. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH CHAIMAN, RAILWAY BOARD
THROUGH CHAIRMAN , RAILWAY BOARD, RAIL BHAWAN
NEW DELHI
2. THE DIVISIONAL RAILWAY MANAGER,
E.C RAILWAY,
SAMASTIPUR
...........Petitioner(s)
Versus 
1. NIVA AGRAWAL
W/O SHRI CHANDRAMAULI AGARWAL, C/O G.M BIHAR STATE SUGAR CO LTD UNIT SAMASTIPUR, P.O & P.S
SAMASTIPUR
...........Respondent(s)

BEFORE: 
 HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.S. CHAUDHARI, PRESIDING MEMBER
 HON'BLE MR. DR. B.C. GUPTA, MEMBER

For the Petitioner :
Mr. Pradeep Kumar Singh, Proxy Counsel
For Mr. R.V. Sinha, Advocate
For the Respondent :
Mr. Shankar Kumar Jha, Advocate

Dated : 04 Mar 2014
ORDER

PER JUSTICE K.S. CHAUDHARI, PRESIDING MEMBER This revision petition has been filed by the petitioners against the order dated 28.09.2012 passed by the Bihar State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Patna (in short, he State Commission in Appeal No. 154 of 2008 Union of India through Chairman, Railway Board Vs. Niva Agrawal by which, while dismissing appeal, order of District Forum allowing complaint was upheld. 2. As there is delay of only one day in filing revision petition, delay stands condoned. 3. Brief facts of the case are that complainant/respondent was travelling with his family members from Samastipur to Mumbai by train No. 1066 Darbhanga Lokmanya Tilak Express in 3rd AC Coach and their berths were 20, 21 & 22 and their ticket No. was 12964756, PNR No. 812-2501245. On 22.9.06, at about 6 A.M. in the morning near Satna Railway Station suddenly berth No. 18 fell on her which caused injury and she became unconscious. On regaining consciousness, she felt severe headache and faintness. The clamp of berth No. 18 which was broken was repaired at Jabalpur and Atarsi Railway Station. At Jabalpur railway station, Railway doctor came and gave her medicine after charging Rs.50/- as fees. Due to swelling in the head, continuous pain and giddiness, she got treatment in G.T. Hospital, Mumbai and after return from Mumbai, she went to Government hospital, Tajpur, Distt. Samastipur from where she was referred to S.K.M.C.H. Muzaffarpur and still she is having treatment. She is an Advocate by profession, but not finding able to perform her duties. Alleging deficiency on the part of OP/petitioner, complainant filed complaint before District Forum. OP resisted complaint and submitted that complaint as framed was not maintainable and barred by limitation. It was further submitted that occurrence took place before arrival at Satna Railway Station which is not within the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway, but the authorities of East Central Railway has been impleaded as a party and in such circumstance, case was not maintainable due to defect of party. Allegation regarding injury to the complaint was also denied and prayed for dismissal of complaint. At the time of arguments, OP did not appear before District Forum and learned District Forum after hearing complaint allowed complaint and directed OP to pay Rs.5,00,000/- as compensation and Rs.25,000/- towards treatment and cost. Appeal filed by the OP was dismissed by learned State Commission vide impugned order against which, this revision petition has been filed. 4. Heard learned Counsel for the parties finally at admission stage and perused record. 5. Perusal of record reveals that OP took specific plea in the written statement that District Forum had no jurisdiction as occurrence took place before arrival at Satna Railway Station which was not within the jurisdiction of East Central Railway and place of injury was falling under different zone of railway. Learned District Forum should have decided question of jurisdiction and only after that complaint should have been allowed. Learned District Forum has not dealt the aspect of jurisdiction in its order which was mandatory on its part. Learned State Commission while dealing with the aspect of jurisdiction held that Samastipur Consumer Forum had jurisdiction because complainant was permanent resident of Samastipur and was practicing Advocate there and she was not supposed to knock the door in far flung place in the given situation. 6. Learned District forum ought to have dealt the question of jurisdiction and apparently learned State Commission has not dealt the question of jurisdiction properly and in such circumstances, it would be appropriate to set aside the impugned order and remand the matter back to District Forum for deciding the complaint afresh on the question of jurisdiction also after giving an opportunity of being heard to both the parties. Learned District forum has also not given any cogent reason for allowing claim of Rs.5,00,000/- towards compensation. 7. Consequently revision petition filed by the petitioner is allowed and impugned order dated 28.9.2012 passed in Appeal No. 154 of 2008 Union of India through Chairman Railway Board Vs. Niva Agrawal and order dated 15.2.2008 passed by District Forum in Case No.02/2007 Nibha Agrawal Vs. Union of India Through Chairman, Railway Board are set aside and matter is remanded back to learned District Forum, Samastipur to decide it afresh on the question of jurisdiction as well as compensation after giving an opportunity of being heard to both the parties. 8. Parties are directed to appear before the District Forum, Samastipur on 11.4.2014.

 
......................J
K.S. CHAUDHARI
PRESIDING MEMBER
......................
DR. B.C. GUPTA
MEMBER

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