Muzaffarpur: A lawyer from Muzaffarpur has demanded Rs 50 lakh in compensation from the Indian Railways, claiming he was unable to take a ritualistic bath on Mauni Amavasya due to mismanagement.
Rajan Jha, the complainant, stated that he had booked a Tatkal ticket in the third AC coach of the Swatantrata Senani Express to travel from Muzaffarpur to Prayagraj on January 27, 2025. He was assigned seat numbers 45, 46, and 47 in coach B3 and reached the Muzaffarpur railway station at 7 pm, well ahead of the train’s scheduled departure at 9.30 pm.
“When the train arrived at the platform, the door of my coach was locked from inside. There was a massive crowd of passengers on the platform, most of whom were headed for the Maha Kumbh bath. The situation was chaotic, and due to the mismanagement of the railways, my family and I could not board the train,” Jha alleged.
Legal Action Under Consumer Protection Act
Jha has now sought compensation through his legal representative, SK Jha, citing deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act. “This is a clear case of negligence by the railways. My client had planned to take part in the Amrit bath of Mauni Amavasya, but due to the coach being inaccessible, he missed the pilgrimage,” said SK Jha.
