The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has directed the South East Central Railway (SECR) to give a compensation of Rs four lakh to the fruit seller who lost his leg after falling from the moving train accidentally.
SECR has been ordered to pay this amount to the injured in three months. It has been clarified in the order that after three months 7.5 percent interest will be applicable on this amount.
Justice Muralidhar Giratkar pronounced this verdict in favour of the fruit vendor after hearing arguments of both the parties. The injured is Vilas Rajendra Meshram, a resident of Gondia.
The court observed that the railway could not prove that the vendor was travelling without a ticket. So even if he was selling fruits illegally on the train, he was eligible for compensation.
The Railway Claims Tribunal had earlier rejected Meshram’s compensation application. The tribunal had said in its order that Meshram was travelling without a valid ticket. Also, he was selling fruits without permission on the train. Therefore, he cannot be compensated. Meshram had filed a plea in the High Court against this decision.
As per the case, Meshram was travelling in the general compartment of a train on March 29, 2012. He was going to Bhandara from Gondia. He had taken a ticket and was standing at the door as the train was crowded. Meanwhile, due to the shock, he fell down from the moving train. Due to which one of his legs was amputated.
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