[Resolved]  Indian Railways — double fare of sleeper berth against RAC

We travelled from bhavnagar to bandra in sleeper class. We had RAC ticket. Railways, due to nonavailability of berths, could allot us two seats on side berth. We requested TC to give refund of difference of fare of Sleeper (SL) and 2nd Sitting (2S) for these two tickets. TC replied that Railways are not obliged to give refund of difference as per rules. If sittings alloted is not acceptable to passangers, they can opt to get tickets cancelled at the station counter before departure of train.
While booking tickets full fare of sleeper class is given for both passangers for RAC. Base fares excluding reservation & superfast charges for express train for the subject kilometers (778 Kms) are Rs. 275 for sleeper and Rs.152 for sitting reservations. Thus Refund of difference Rs.123 per passangers (total 246) should have been given. If this refund is not entertainable as per railway rules, it amounts to double the sleeper fare being charged for single berth by railways which is not good trade practice. Thus Passanger is looser and Railways is unjustified gainer getting double fare for single berth at the cost of inconvenience to passanger!!

The details of travel undettaken is as under:
PNR no.[protected], Train no. 2972, travel date:10th Jan 2009 Bhavnagar to bandra (778 kms), scheduled departure-18:05 and arrival at bandra 11.01.2009 07:45

Request to get me the refunds