Delhi consumer panel orders Railways to pay Rs 25,000 over shared blanket
The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Indian Railways to pay Rs 25,000 to a passenger who was made to share a blanket
The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Indian Railways to pay Rs 25,000 to a passenger who was made to share a blanket with a stranger during a train journey, holding the national transporter guilty of deficiency in service. The amount includes Rs 20,000 as compensation for mental harassment and physical inconvenience and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs. In its order dated July 29, the commission said the passenger, who was travelling on a reservation against cancellation (RAC) ticket and sharing a berth with another traveller, was entitled to separate linen. It also noted that Railways had already imposed a Rs 1,000 penalty on the linen contractor over the incident, but had neither informed the complainant about it nor paid him any compensation. Read Full Story The bench of commission president Monika Aggarwal Srivastava and members Rajender Dhar and Ritu Garodia said, "The Railways provided one blanket to two completely unrelated passengers in violation of the circular dated 23.09.2009.
Thereafter, the Railways imposed a Rs 1,000 penalty on the linen contractor, but failed to inform the complainant about the same or provide compensation to the passenger. Even in the reply filed before this Commission, Railways are silent about this penalty." The complainant had travelled from Prayagraj to Delhi in October 2022 on an RAC ticket, under which he shared a berth with another passenger. According to the complaint, the attendant gave only one blanket, one pillow and two bedsheets for both passengers. The complainant said that even after he asked for separate blankets and pillows, he was told that only one blanket and one pillow were provided for a shared RAC berth. He later raised the issue on social media and shared his PNR details with railway authorities, but said he received only a towel while his demand for separate blankets and pillows remained unmet.
The passenger later sent written complaints and sought information under the RTI Act. Unsatisfied with the response, he moved the consumer commission seeking compensation. Railways opposed the plea, questioned the commission's territorial jurisdiction, and said bedrolls had been supplied as per prescribed norms. It also said extra blankets were given subject to demand and availability, and that onboard linen services were handled by a private contractor. The commission, however, said a 2009 Railway Board circular allowed RAC passengers to receive blankets and bedsheets because the cost of bedrolls formed part of the fare. It said both sides agreed that the complainant had shared the berth with an unrelated passenger and had been given only one blanket and one pillow. The commission added, "Moreover, OP has not placed on record any proof that a separate bedroll was provided to the complainant.
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