Orissa High Court Holds Railways Strictly Liable for Passenger’s Accidental Death

The Orissa High Court held the Railways to be strictly liable for the death of Krushna Chandra Sahoo, a bona fide passenger who accidentally fell from a moving train and was run over.

The Court ruled the incident as an “untoward incident” under Sections 123(c)(2) and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989, entitling the family to compensation.

The Court rejected the Railway Claims Tribunal’s suspicion of suicide, noting there was no evidence to support it.

The Railways was directed to pay ₹8 lakh compensation along with 6% annual interest from the date the claim was filed.

[Santosh Ku. Sahoo v Union of India]