Over 45000 cases pending in Railway Claims Tribunal

NEW DELHI: A total of 45,980 cases are pending in all branches of Railway Claims Tribunal, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

The pending cases are categorised as goods, train accidents, untoward incidents and fare refund.

The main reason for huge pendency of cases in Railway Claims Tribunal is non-availability of adequate number of members in various branches of RCT, said Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha in a written reply.

There are 21 posts of Members lying vacant as on November 12, 2014.

The other reason being that sometimes parties also seek adjournments for giving evidence and cross examination, he said.

About the steps being taken to fill up vacant posts, he said owing to some administrative reasons, the selection process for filling up of the vacancies of Vice-Chairman (Judicial), Member (Judicial) and Member (Technical) arising in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 could not be undertaken in time.

In the meanwhile, Circuit Benches are arranged by deputing Members from one Bench to another in order to dispose of claims cases expeditiously.