Northern Railways to pay Rs 45K for bag theft during journey

Holding Northern Railways guilty of "imperfect services", a consumer forum here has asked it to pay Rs 45,000 to a woman, whose bag was lost during journey.
New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by C K Chaturvedi, asked the railways to pay money to Haryana resident Shaveta Chaudhary while noting that in several similar cases, National Consumer Commission decided in favour of consumers.
"...Such cases display imperfection on the part of Opposite Party (railways) in not serving the safe journey to passengers and their luggage, by taking adequate steps by preventing entry of intruders, or other personnel, by railway police including lack of enforcement on the part of the TTE (Train Ticket Examiner) etc," the forum said.

"We have considered the report lodged and other...And hold OP guilty of imperfect services shown by theft of belongings of complainant. We award a compensation of Rs 35,000 for imperfect services and Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses," it said.
Shaveta had told the forum that on October 9, 2010, while she was going to Bhopal from Delhi, her bag containing laptop and other personal belongings went missing from her coach immediately after the train departed.
She lodged the complaint with the TTE, alleging loss of goods worth Rs 45,000, including her laptop and other valuables.
However, after her grievances were not heard, she approached the consumer forum alleging deficiency on part of railways in not providing adequate safety against intruders.

The railways, however, contended before the forum that there was no liability of railway for loss of goods in unbooked luggage etc.