If you fall from train, you should fall outside train and not inside! - Frivolous Litigation - Indian Railways as good as Indian Revenue - Delhi High Court imposes costs to be recovered from officials
A Railway passenger was trampled upon in a General Compartment; he fell inside the compartment; had head injury and fracture of ribs and finally died in a hospital. The Railway Claims Tribunal granted a small compensation against which the mighty Indian Railways filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court.
The Railways argued that the passenger must have died due to old age. The man was about sixty years old!.
The Railways also argued that compensation can be paid only in case of accidental falling of any passenger from a train carrying passengers - and falling from a train means he should fall outside the train and not inside it!!!!. Anyone falling from a train, if he has any concern for his family, should ensure that he falls outside the train and by no chance inside it.
The Delhi High Court was aghast. In a judgement delivered last month, the High Court observed, "Strange are the ways in which Government Departments work. All I can state is that for no reason frivolous and irresponsible appeals are filed, and the Court fails to understand on the basis of what and whose legal opinion."
The High Court while dismissing the Railway appeal imposed a cost of Rs. 20,000 to be recovered from that official or officials who have given the opinion for filing of the appeal in the case.