SMT.MOLYKUTTY MATHEW : MEMBER

        This is a complaint filed by the complainant U/S 35 of the Consumer Protection Act 2019  for an order directing  the  OPs to pay an  amount of Rs.65,200/-  to the complainant   as the total  loss caused to the complainant along with cost and  compensation for mental agony caused to the complainant  for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice  on  the  part of OP’s.

The brief  of the complaint :

    On 29/7/2022 the complainant  had travelled in the general bogie in Mangala Express with ordinary season ticket because he missed the local train.  There was no time to go back to the counter to purchase superfast ticket.  During his travel in the train the ticket chequer Mr.Sukumaran asked the ticket and he produced his season ticket, suddenly he charged Rs.526/- being the fine verbally and the complainant is not acceptable for the charge and no liquid cash of Rs.526/- in his  hand.  Then the OP.No.3 snatched the season ticket and ID card of the complainant.  Then the complainant had lodged a complaint through SMS dtd.29/7/2022 stating that the 3^rd OP snatched his property and he  incurred Rs.25,000/- as the charge of the property.  Moreover  the complainant lost his planned journey between  Thalassery and Kozhikode and vice versa from 30/7/2022 to 17/8/2022.  Then the complainant filed another  complaint dtd.25/8/2022 and 1^st OP send a reply dtd.25/9/2022. Then the complainant again send mail dtd.18/10/2022, and complaint No.MORLY/E/2022/22638 dtd. 31/10/2022 regarding the mis use of his personnel details and photographs by 3^rd OP.  Then the OP’s not properly reacted the complaint of complainant and he again send e-mails reminders dtd.7/10/2022, 6/11/2022, 16/11/2022, 29/11/2022 and 7/12/2022 addressed to 6 designated officers in Indian Railways including Sri.Manish Tiwari, Executive Director, Indian Railway also.  Thereafter 1^st OP giving a vague reply intentionally to  protect 3^rd OP and 2^nd OP did not examine the second purchase of ID and season ticket in the name of  the complainant.  The 3^rd OP  handed over the season ticket of the complainant to the RPF along with his ID card and the RPF charged a case against the complainant for travelling in a superfast train without proper ticket.  Thereafter the complainant  was summoned to appear before the  Honorary Special Judicial II^nd class Magistrate Railway Kozhikode in ST No.4872/22 U/S 137(1)(a) R/A 1989. On 16/11/2022 the complainant appeared before the court and pleaded guilty and paid Rs.400/- as fine amount before the court.  The snatching of complainant’s identity card  and season ticket illegally  by 3^rd OP spoiled the entire planned journey between  30/7/2022 and 17/8/2022 and as per prevailing  rules of Indian railway, passenger cannot purchase  another ID or season ticket thereby the complainant lost his  planned journey after 17/8/2022 resulting a total cost of Rs.65,200/- . So the act of  OPs, the complainant caused much mental agony and financial loss.  So there is deficiency of service and unfair trade practice on the part of OPs.  Hence the complaint.

     After receiving  notice all the  OPs entered before the commission  and filed their written version.  They contended that on 29/7/2022 the 3^rd OP was conducting squad ticket checking in the general coach of Mangala Express.  When the train left Calicut the 3^rd OP checked the ticket of the complainant it was found that he was travelling with an ordinary  season ticket  which is not a valid ticket for a superfast train.  The complainant was travelling without proper ticket  he was asked to pay fine of Rs.265/- and the season ticket is valid only with  ID card and it is to be produced for verification during ticket checking.  But the complainant is refused to pay the fine amount saying that he was not liquid cash with him.  So the 3^rd OP has no other way to handed over the complainant to RPF at the nearest railway station Vadakara.  When the train reached Vdakara the 3^rd OP could see that the complainant ran away from the general compartment to some other coach.  Then the 3^rd OP handed over the season ticket with ID card of the complainant to RPF.  Then they charges a case against the complainant for travelling in a superfast train without proper ticket.  Thereafter the complainant was summoned to appear before Honorary Special Judicial II^nd class Magistrate,Railway,Kozhikode. Then the  complainant pleaded guilty before the court and he paid fine amount of Rs.400/-.  The Ops state that there is no snatching of IOD card and season ticket.  The total loss of Rs.65200/- averred in the complaint is an imaginary one.  The OPs have  acted  only according to the rules and regulations and they acted only in their official capacity.  Since the relief claimed is against the railway administrator, Union of India  and the General Manager, southern Railway Chennai is a necessary parties to the proceedings without which the complaint is bad for non-joinder of  necessary parties.  So there is no deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on the part of OPs  .  Hence the  complaint may be dismissed.

      On the basis of the rival contentions by the pleadings the following  issues  were framed for consideration.

1. Whether there is  any deficiency of service   on the part of the opposite parties?
2. Whether the complainant is entitled for any relief?
3. Relief and cost.

     The evidence consists of the oral testimony of PW1 and  Exts. A1 to A10 were marked. On OP’s side DW1 was examined and no documents  marked.

Issue Nos.1 to 3 taken together: 

         The  Complainant  adduced evidence before the commission by submitting  his chief affidavit in lieu of  his chief examination to the tune of the pleadings in the complaint and denying the  contentions in the version.  The complainant was cross examined as PW1 by   OPs.  The documents  Exts.A1 to A10 were marked(subject to proof) on his part to substantiate his case also. In Ext.A1 is the summons notice issued by II^nd JFCM Railway,Kozhikode ST No.4878/2022.  Ext.A2 is the fine receipt dtd.16/11/2022 of Rs.400/-.  Ext.A3 is the complaint  filed before Indian Railway through SMS .  Ext.A4 is the complaint No.MORLY /E/2022/16609 dtd.25/8/22 regarding  no action of the complaint lodged.  Ext.A5 is the reply dtd.25/9/2022 received from 1^st OP.   Ext.A6 is the mail dtd.18/10/2022 in response to the reply to the  letter issued by 1^st OP.  Ext.A7 is the complaint No. MORLY /E/2022/22638 dtd.31/10/22 regarding  misuse of the complainant’s photograph and personnel  details  by 3^rd OP .  Ext.A8 is the e-mail complaint dtd.31/10/22 with railway authorities regarding the misuse of complainant’s ID card and photograph by 3^rd OP.  Ext.A9 is the remarks for RTI application of complainant  dtd. 29/11/2022 in letter No.C415/RTIA/265-22-23 issued by Southern Railway.  Ext.A10 is the  letter No.J/C-353/RTI/Appeal/02 dtd.9/2/2023.  In the evidence of PW1 who clearly stated that  “നിങ്ങൾ proper ticket ഇല്ലാതെയാണ് മംഗളാ എക്സ്പ്രസ്സിൽ യാത്ര ചെയ്തത്  എന്നു പറയുന്നു. ? No answer. ആയതിന് നിങ്ങളുടെ പേരിൽ ST4878/22  നമ്പ്രായി RPF എടുത്ത കേസ്സിൽ നിങ്ങൾ  16/11/22ന്  ബഹു. Special Judicial 2^nd class Magistrate Railway  മുമ്പാകെ ഹാജരായി 400/- രൂപ  fine amount അടച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്? ശരിയാണ് (Exts.A1&A2). നിങ്ങൾ അന്ന് Train Kozhikode  വിട്ടതിനുശേഷം OP.NO.3 ticket check ചെയ്യാൻ വന്നിരുന്നു? ശരിയാണ്. TTR check  ചെയ്യുന്ന സമയത്ത് fine അടച്ചാൽ മാത്രമേ  receipt കിട്ടൂ എന്ന കാര്യം എനിക്കറിയില്ല. നിങ്ങൾ ഈ കേസ്സിൽ OP.NO.3 മുമ്പാകെ fine അടക്കാൻ തയ്യാറായില്ല എന്നു പറയുന്നു? ശരിയാണ്. Moreover in the evidence of DW1 who clearly stated that “ Kozhikode Squad ൽ  എത്ര അംഗങ്ങൾ അന്ന് duty-യിലുണ്ടായിരുന്നു? Kozhikode Squad ൽ 7പേർ ഉണ്ട്. അന്ന് ഞാൻ മാത്രമേ Mangala Express ൽ dutyയിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളൂ.  265/- രൂപയാണ് നിങ്ങൾ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടത്? അതെ. അതിന് receipt ഉണ്ടോ?പണം അടയ്ക്കാത്തതുകൊണ്ട് receipt കൊടുത്തില്ല. ID card ഉം ticket ഉം  നിങ്ങൾ എടുത്തിരുന്നോ? എനിക്ക് നോക്കാൻ തന്നതാണ്.   So it is clear that 3^rd OP is not snatched the season ticket and ID card of the complainant.  Moreover in Koyilandy there is no railway police.  Then the 3^rd OP handed over ID card and season ticket to Vadakara RPF and  they transferred to Kozhikode.  Then the complainant remitted the fine amount of Rs.400/- before the Honorary Special  Judicial II^nd class Magistrate, Railway Kozhikode dtd.16/11/2022.  

       After perusing the documents and evidence the complainant is not in a position to prove that there is any deficiency of service and unfair trade practice  against the OPs.  OPs filed argument note  also.  So it is clear that the OPs had acted only according to the rules and regulations in force , there is no deficiency of service and unfair trade practice from the side of OPs.

       As discussed above the complainant has not proved the deficiency in service and unfair trade practice against the OPs.  Thus the issue 1 to 3 found against  the complainant.

       In the result the complaint is dismissed no order as to cost and compensation.

Exts:

A1 – Photocopy of summons issued by Special JFCM Railway  Kozhikode( subject to proof)

A2 – Fine receipt dtd.16/11/2022

A3- Complaint  filed through Indian Railway through SMS

A4 -complaint No.MORLJ /E/2022/16609 dtd.25/8/22. 

A5-Reply from commercial manager dtd.25/9/2022

A6 – Rebutted mail dtd.18/10/22

A7- Complaint dtd.31/10/22

A8 – E-mail complaint

A9 -  letter No.C415/RTIA/265-22-23 issued by Southern Railway.

A10 - letter No.J/C-353/RTI/Appeal/02 dtd.9/2/2023,

PW1-Haridas.T.K- complainant

DW1-V.K.Sukumaran-3^rd     OP

Sd/                                                                      Sd/                                                     Sd/

PRESIDENT                                             MEMBER                                          MEMBER

Ravi Susha                                       Molykutty Mathew                                    Sajeesh K.P

eva           

                                                                        /Forwarded by Order/

                                                                   ASSISTANT REGISTRAR