New Delhi, 1st July, 2013

The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that the Chairman, Railway Board pay a sum of Rs.5 lakhs as compensation to the wife of a senior citizen, Rameshwar Mandal, who succumbed to injuries when thrown out by a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) from the moving Swatantrata Senani Express train on 5th January, 2011. He was traveling with his wife from Allahabad to Bhagalpur and resided at Village Nardhu Tola Basaitha, District Saharsa, Bihar.

The Commission has observed that it is clear both Rameshwar Mandal and his wife, Bulki Devi were kicked out of the moving train. While the wife survived, the husband died. If at all there were no tickets with them, the TTE should have proceeded in accordance with law by charging penalty or excess charge or whatever was permissible under the law. The TTE had no business to push them out of the moving train. This is a serious violation of human rights resulting in the death of the person thereby making his wife a widow with nobody to take care of her. Moreover, it appears that Rameshwar Mandal was a freedom fighter and must have claimed free pass as it has been given to every freedom fighter.

The Commission in its order has said that under the circumstances, it is of the view that Bulki Devi should be paid a reasonable compensation within a period of eight weeks, despite the fact that the matter is pending before the Railway Claims Tribunal for adjudication of the claim petition filed by Bulki Devi.

The Commission has also sought a compliance report from the Chairman, Railway Board, along with a proof of payment. He has also been asked to submit a report on the status of the case pending before the court within the stipulated period.

The Commission had taken cognizance of the incident on the basis of media report which also said that an FIR was lodged with the Government Railway Police, Muzaffarpur against an unidentified TTE.
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