"What is the policy of the Indian Railways with regard to posting railway policemen on outstation trains?" the Bombay High Court asked the railways to explain on Tuesday.
"What is the policy of the Indian Railways with regard to posting railway policemen on outstation trains?" the Bombay High Court asked the railways to explain on Tuesday.
A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and AK Menon gave the direction after the railways informed the court that it was facing a shortage in Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, and hence, a guard is not available on every train.
The court was hearing from advocate Uday Warunjikar, counsel of one Bhavika Mehta who lost a leg while chasing a thief on an outstation train in 2012. Warunjikar said there had been no policeman present on the train when the incident happened.
Mehta had approached the court seeking compensation from the railways for the medical expenses she incurred after the accident.
After the railways informed that the compensation amount has been released, the bench limited the prayers of Mehta's petition to posting of policemen on trains.
Mehta was travelling from Amritsar to Mumbai Central in 2012 when she was robbed by a thief on board. When she tried to chase him, the accused pulled her out of the running train, as a result of which she sustained serious injuries and her leg had to be amputated.
As she could not take medical aid in a nearby railway/civil hospital, she got herself admitted in a private hospital in Chandigarh and claimed a compensation of Rs9 lakh. This was granted to her, but later, to fit a prosthetic Rs5 lakh more was required, which the railways refused to give.
It had argued, "The railways is liable to pay compensation only if it is proved that negligence was committed on its behalf." It also said the incident was avoidable.
The court had come down heavily on the railways then and said, "Instead of commending her for her brave act, you (railways) are blaming her for trying to fight back a thief on board a train. Are you saying citizens of India should give into the demands of robbers and thieves?"
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