Student misses entrance exam due to delayed train, court orders Railways to pay Rs 9 lakh compensation after 7-year legal fight

Seven years after a delayed train cost a 17-year-old student her chance to sit for a crucial university entrance exam, a consumer court in Uttar Pradesh has ordered the railways to pay Rs 9.1 lakh in compensation. The district consumer disputes redressal commission in Basti held the railways responsible for the delay that stopped Samriddhi from reaching her examination centre on time. The case dates back to May 7, 2018, when Samriddhi, then 17, boarded a train from Basti to Lucknow to appear for the entrance exam for Lucknow University’s BSc biotechnology course.

Her exam centre was Jai Narayan PG College in Lucknow, and candidates were required to reach the hall by 12.30 pm. The Gorakhpur-Lucknow Intercity Superfast Express, which reaches Basti at 6.55 am, was scheduled to arrive in Lucknow by 11 am. Instead, the train reached the city two-and-a-half hours late, making it impossible for her to sit for the exam.

The commission observed that the delay had a direct impact on the student’s future prospects and awarded her Rs 9.1 lakh in compensation, bringing closure to a legal battle that stretched over seven years.

Defective excavator case: another Rs 10 lakh relief

In a separate order, the district consumer disputes redressal commission directed a company to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Binoy TV of Perumbavoor for supplying a defective excavator that developed problems soon after purchase.

The complaint was filed against Sany Heavy Industry, Pune, and Icon Equipment, Perumbavoor. Binoy said he bought a hydraulic excavator with a dozer blade in 2012 for over Rs 29.5 lakh to earn his livelihood through self-employment. The company had promised a warranty of 5,000 operating hours or four years.

However, the machine turned defective within just 50 hours of operation.

Repeated faults and failed repairs

According to the complaint, the excavator developed multiple issues, including diesel filter head problems, cabin cracks, operator seat vibration, rust-induced counterweight damage, operating lever leakage, arm cylinder leakage, cabin foundation failure, bonnet operation failure and other mechanical faults.

The local dealer attended to the machine repairs 15 times but failed to fix the defects properly. Even after the machine clocked 2,250 operating hours, Binoy said he could not earn enough to repay loan instalments because the excavator kept malfunctioning.

When he later approached the company for scheduled service, it refused to provide service or spare parts and demanded high charges, which the complainant said he was not liable to pay.

Court’s directions

The commission ruled in favour of the complainant and ordered the firm to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation. It also directed the company to pay Rs 40,000 towards court fees.

Together, the two cases highlight how consumer courts continue to offer relief in situations where delays, defects and denied services cause long-term harm to ordinary citizens.

(Source: TOI)