E-Paper
Senior citizen gets relief at last
Citizens have started looking up to District Consumer Forum (DCF) for the redressal of their grievances and it has also proved its effectiveness in providing relief to a senior citizen.
Citizens have started looking up to District Consumer Forum (DCF) for the redressal of their grievances and it has also proved its effectiveness in providing relief to a senior citizen.
The case pertains to 74-year-old Shankerlal Chandra who was ill-treated by a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) on board a train. Chandra had retired on August 31, 1987 from 508, Army Base Workshop at Allahabad.
According to the details of incident, Shankerlal Chandra, who is a resident of Colonelganj here, was travelling in 1151 Up Howrah-Gwalior Chambal Express on January 25, 2000. He was on his way from Howrah to Allahabad when the TTE ill-treated him during ticket checking and threatened to send him to jail although
Shankerlal was travelling on a valid railway ticket. The TTE also charged Rs 224 from him. Shankerlal had availed the fare concession meant for senior citizens and also showed his pension documents but the TTE did not budge. He misbehaved with Shankerlal and mentally tortured him. Shankerlal had to take financial help from his fellow passengers in order to pay off the TTE.
After the incident, Shankerlal complained in writing to the Railway Minister, the DRM, Eastern Railway, Kolkata and ACS Ticket Checking, Kolkata, but to no avail.
He did not receive any reply after which he filed a case in the District Consumer Forum, Allahabad.
The Forum after hearing the counsels of the complainant and the respondent in its order recently stated that the physical injury heals after some time but the mental harassment stays even after life.
The Forum directed the respondents comprising DRM Eastern Railway, 3 Koyalaghat Street, Kolkata and ACS/ Ticket Checking Eastern Railway, 3 Koyalaghat Street Kolkata to pay Rs 224 jointly to the complainant within two months.
The respondents will also have to pay Rs 500 for the physical and mental sufferings undergone by the complainant and Rs 500 as the petition charges borne by him. If the said payment is not done within two months then the complainant is eligible to receive 6% as interest on the total amount.
