Karnataka HC Grants Compensation to Family of Passenger Who Fell from Train
Case Name: UOI & Anr v. A Mohan & Anr, 2556/2011, 2024
Judge(s): Justice H P Sandesh
Advocate(s): H S Bhushan
The Karnataka High Court upheld a Railway Tribunal’s decision to grant compensation to the family of a passenger who fell after travelling past his destination.
Rejecting South Western Railways’ claim that the deceased was not a bona fide passenger, the Court applied the strict liability principle from UOI v. Prabhakaran.
Justice HP Sandesh emphasized that Section 124-A of the Railways Act, 1989, mandates compensation even if the passenger's actions contributed to the incident, provided it wasn’t self-inflicted.
The Court clarified that travelling beyond the designated stop does not negate the railway’s liability under the law.
The Court firmly upheld a compensation of ₹8 lakh to the victim's grieving family.
