I wish to draw your attention to an incident where rules were misused to harass an honest citizen.
I had my tickets booked for T.No. 2952 Rajdhani from New Delhi to Mumbai Central, Seat no 13/15, coach A1. I had joint E- ticket with my husband as master passenger..Just 15 mins before the depature the diversion in the route was announced and expected 8 hrs delay in arrival was expressed which was more than usual in these expected (gujjar agitation) circumstances also. My husband got panicked as this meant he can`t even attend second half of the office. So he got down to enquire from TT regarding the conditions and process of cancellation TT, `Vijay Kannan `told him it can be done through internet only and that the refund would not exceed 50% of the total amount. He further added that contrary to the announcement being made of an 8 hr delay the train islikely to be much more late will probably reach Mumbai not before 1930 Hrs. This information was not encouraging.
My husband came back to the cabin and we discussed that cancellation was not possible because of non availability of internet at the station. I decided to continue with my journey and he decided to take flight so that he could attend office. I went upto the door of the bogey to send off my husband.
However, on my return to my seat, after seeing off my husband, I found a lady and girl occupying our seats. I was really surprised to see this as we had not cancelled the tickets. Both ladies on enquiring told that they had been given those two seats and they are related to one of the TTs.
TT came after about 45mins and told me that the tickets were cancelled by your husband and therefore allotted to another passenger.He also showed me the seat numbers written on the palm of the hand as a proof to the conversation. When I refuted this claim he asked me to show the PAN ID which I told him is carried by my husband who had left the train in a hurry. He told me that he will talk to me later.
Then after 1 hour he sent an attendant and called me at the back of the cabin. He said your husband had asked for the cancellation and he has given the seats to RAC. I said this was impossible . Then he told me that I`m not having PAN ID of master passenger in which case my ticket in invalid and I cannot travel on the train. (this after paying full amount for the tickets, what a rule !!). I told him that you met my husband and know I`m a genuine passenger and that these were unusual circumstances where a passenger is not availing services even after paying for them. I also suggested other identity solutions like my own Pan Card. Finally, I advised the TT that even the Master passenger’s Pan card could be shown as proof on arrival. He sent me back. I thought matter is over as I have agreed to their terms and conditions and returned to my seat. But my harassment had just begun !!
After 2 hrs he again sent an attendant to call me again at the back of the cabin. This time there were two TTs and both were telling me that my ticket was invalid and the consequences of traveling without ticket. Their tone was threatening. They kept on talking and discussing the matter which I told them I can`t help in these unplanned and sudden circumstances and ready to pay the penalty .They suggested that they could do me a favour. I do not understand what favour they were talking about. I told them I `m ready to pay the amount if this they think should be penalized under the circumstances I have explained to them, They charge me a fine of Rs. 3, 950 which I never denied and agreed to pay. Since I was not carrying that much cash I was made to give them in writing that I`ll pay this much amount at Mumbai central. Through out this ordeal I kept telling myself “ I am a law abiding citizen, I have bought my ticket legally and paid for it…I can prove my identity..so what have I to fear”.. I gathered the courage to tell them that they have harassed me as they wanted to accomodate those two ladies which both of them denied hastily.
Kindly note that throughout this ordeal, the train was fast traveling, away from Delhi (where my husband was) and it was already dark and drizzling. May I ask these law implementers what did they expect a lady to do midway, in a fast traveling train at night? Are all passengers who do not carry the ID on the train to be treated as thieves. What would they have done if the master passenger had been robbed of the purse which carried his ID? Please note Airlines seek similar photo proofs but they check them before boarding and the ID sought is of the individual boarding. It is interesting to note that even the ticket and internet terms & conditions do not specify the consequences of not carrying the proof!!
By now it was clear to them that I was not going to break the law or grease their palms. I came back on my seat and after 1-2 hrs i.e. after eating their dinner both ladies were shifted to other cabin and seat was given to a person who had 1st no. in RAC ( imagine 1st RAC was given after 6-7 hrs from the start of train).
Next day in the afternoon TT came to me that he will approach me 10 min before Mumbai central which he never did. Just before getting down I looked for him. He was standing on the platform waiting for me with the cops. He called the police, which he claimed had been informed in advance. If calling cops was routine procedure then they should have informed me beforehand . I was shaken and completely broke down to see how a well educated citizen is being treated as a criminal. I cannot explain the mantal trauma I underwent . Good for me, My husband was also at the platform waiting with PAN card and money.I don`t how I would have handled it alone. So much for an honest citizen who paid for the ticket, was willing to prove her identity!!
We were asked to pay Rs.3, 950. Our request to meet a senior official was declined with rhetoric that he was the boss at that point of time. A receipt was cut against for Rs.3, 950 collected from us. Our request to add a line that the passenger was willing to show ID on arrival and master passenger was also present at the time the receipt was cut at Mumbai Central was promptly declined. The receipt carries only TTs version.
I want to ask few things :
1. What was my crime that I was so much harassed?
2. These were unusual, unplanned circumstances, where I`m a honest citizen traveling with proper Passport and ID was harassed so much for one rule!!. Inspite of carrying a proper Electronic Reservation slip ticket which is most mandatory as written on the ticket.
3. Are TT only robots, can`t they see the circumstances and use their judgement and if there was any such thing he should have called train superintendent. I don`t think so that TT had authority to put my ticket as invalid as no clear written rules are there regarding the consequences of not having PAN ID. Afterall I was traveling with the ticket and my husband had to get down and TT had met him on the station.
4. How come TT had cancelled my ticket beforehand and had allotted to other two people who traveled on those seats till dinner time before checking the tickets.
5. How come 1st RAC was confirmed after 6-7 hrs of the start of train when other waiting lists tickets were already cleared .
6. Why such a rule is being followed so blindly when no body else is claiming my ticket and my husband after boarding the train had to leave because of delay which everybody knew.
7. Why TT always called me at the back of the cabin, used to send an attendant to call me and never talked to me at my seat. Is this the way a respected lady who is traveling alone is treated.
8. Why TT never approached me after that and straight away called cops on the platform.
9. Why TT has not informed me beforehand that he had to call cops on platform as a routine procedure (is this is a routine procedure, I doubt!) .They could have at least saved a educated person who understands and is fully cooperating with them from the mental trauma.
10. Why the TT was continuously grinning, mockingly, when I was lodging the complaint. Was he satisfied and happy to see his mission harassing a law abiding citizen accomplished.
11. If TT knew the laws so well why he did not informed my husband that the E- ticket can be cancelled only before the chart preparation not after that as per the rules on the internet site. And why he kept on insisting that my husband had told him to cancel the tickets when this is not possible by any law/rules.
I had always believed that rules are made for people convenience but in our country they are misused to harass common people.
Aug 14, 2020
Complaint marked as Resolved
please clearfy the rule of " LOWER BIRTH QUTA" of indian railway
thanks
Rajeev Kumar
As i spent most of the time in traveling and mostly prefer indian railwys so according to my preplannig i booked my ticket generally one month ago and inspite of the availablity of seats, the seats allotment not as per my demand. Till now i am not getting why this kind of thing happening repetatively.
Secondly more critical problem is that last month i booked in tatkal quota with my wife and got waiting no. 5 & 6 and it confirmed but allotment done for one seat in S6 and for another one in S3. So this kind of thing create a problem during the journy with family. i would like to say that when waiting is clear up to 300 then seat allotment done as per mentinond in the individual tickets.its not a new thing but i seen this repetative time and get suffered.
Is lower birth quota only for senior citizens?
please clearfy the rule of " LOWER BIRTH QUTA" of indian railways and who all are eligible.
I am 78 years old today I and my wife who is 72 years old booked one ticket from agra fort to ahmedabad in azimabad express train no 2948 in lower birth quota
which was available in website of indian railway but when my servent came back from booking office the ticket showed waiting list 158 & 159 please let me know how we can get reservation in lower birth quota .
my P N R No is[protected]
R N Gupta
Agra
e-mail [protected]@rediffmail.com
1) Senior Citizens
2) Women above 45 Yrs of age travelling alone
3) Pregnant ladies
Hope this info helps you.
Regards,
Natraj
Indian Railways — Not get reserve Birth
Respected Didi ,I had booked a ticket in Hirakund Express having PNR No :[protected] for my family to board train from Sambalpur (SBP) to Amritsar (ASR) . At the time of booking we were assured by the booking clerk that this waiting number is not a problem at all and will definitely get confirmed..Our W/L no on the day of travel (14/5/11) were at No.15 ,16 ,17, 18 . Since it was more then two month the numeric is unchanged .
Indian railways has already collected the reservation charges from us at the time of booking. I fail to understand why in the first place tickets with W/L are issued?? When you know you are not capable of providing seats to them. This is nothing but cheating with customers. You collect money in full from us and when it comes to refund it takes several months to years and that too with so many unwanted querries. I want to ask this question to railway administration that how come those agents standing in the que get a confirm ticket from the window for a train which is about to departure and the customers who had booked more than 2 month ago still could not manage to be in RAC?? What about indian railway's claim if the ticket not confirmed railway will accomodate in higher class compartmentss???This is all nothing but a planned trick by corrupted railway staff who is just making money out of customer's pockets. This is a known fact to everyone that the counter staff at each reservation center is accepting money for issuing confirm tickets from quota to passengers who pay bribe. Those who believe in the system and wait for their confirmation are always left behind to suffer.
May I seek a departmental enquiry in all such matters and expect a better management and restoration of faith in Indian railways?? Is there anybody honest enough to look in to this kind of situations?
Yours sincerely
Niranjan Panigrahi
Regarding coming late of emu trains no. 64016 shakurbasti to palwal emu
The train no. 64016 which comes from shakurbasti comes late on okhla station from last 2 to 3 months. It comes 20 to 30 minutes on regular basis.I and my wife both are Senior Citizen travelled in Garib Rath (No. 12215) from Sarai Rohall (Delhi) to Ajmer vide PNR NO. [protected]. We both were given MB and UB (45, 47) in coach No. G10. whereas in same coach Lower berth was given to below 60 year aged person.
Kindly advise me while allotting the berths senior citizens are considered for lower berth.
If yes then why we were not considered for lower berth.
Thanking you
Prem Kumar Bhatia
A-201, Madhav Nagar, Ajmer
Trn:11405
Dt:[protected]
Frm PUNE to WHM
Cls:3A
P1-B1 56
WHICH IS UPPER BIRTH
HOW IT CAN BE POSSIBLE FOR AGED PATIENT TO CLIMB ON UPPER BIRTH WHILE TRAVELLING ALONE.