Created by Fuzzy Cloud

Railways Act, 1989

48 judgments · newest first · showing 1–48

RAMRAO AMRUT PAWARversusTHE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE GENERAL MANAGER

DISPOSED OFF

The appellant, Ramrao Amrut Pawar, was travelling on Train No.542 and, after alighting to fetch water, attempted to board the moving train, slipped and suffered a left leg amputation below the knee. The Railway Claims Tribunal, Nagpur rejected his compensation claim, holding the incident was not an …

JUNAID NOOR ALI SAYYED @ PAPAversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Disposed Off

The applicant, Junaid Noor Ali Sayyed, sought bail in a criminal case (CR No.613 of 2024) for alleged robbery and offences under the Indian Railways Act. The prosecution alleged that the applicant snatched a mobile phone from a victim on a local train, causing the victim to jump and sustain grievous …

RAJNI AND ANOTHERversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANOTHER

2025 INSC 1201

The deceased, Sanjesh Kumar Yagnik, purchased a second‑class ticket for travel from Indore to Ujjain on 19 May 2017 but was allegedly pushed out of the moving train due to overcrowding, sustaining fatal head injuries. His widow and minor son filed a claim petition before the Railway Claims Tribunal …

UNION OF INDIAversusM/S KAMAKHYA TRANSPORT PVT. LTD. ETC. ETC.

2025 INSC 805Appeal(s) allowed

The Union of India, as railway authority, issued demand notices alleging mis‑declaration of goods under Section 66 of the Railways Act, 1989, after the consignments had been delivered. The respondents paid the demands but later sought refunds, contending that such post‑delivery notices were illegal …

INSPECTOR, RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE, KOTTAYAMversusMATHEW K CHERIAN & ANR.

2025 INSC 51Appeal(s) allowed

The Inspector of the Railway Protection Force alleged that Mathew K. Cherian created numerous fraudulent IRCTC user IDs to procure and sell railway e‑tickets for profit, while Ramesh, an authorised railway ticketing agent, was accused of using multiple IDs to supply tickets. The central question was …

MANIK & ORS.versusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

2024 INSC 734

The case involved police officers accused of torturing a suspect, Shama @ Kalya, while in custody, leading to his death and alleged tampering with evidence. The prosecution relied on witness testimony, a fingerprint test linking an unidentified burnt body to the victim, and claims of a staged …

DOLI RANI SAHAversusUNION OF INDIA

2024 INSC 603Disposed off

The appellant, Doli Rani Saha, claimed compensation for the death of her brother who allegedly fell from a moving train in 2003. The Railway Claims Tribunal and the Gauhati High Court dismissed the claim, holding that there was insufficient proof the deceased was a bona‑fide passenger, particularly …

SUBODH SINGHversusUNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

2024 INSC 458Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant's land was partially acquired under notifications issued under Section 20(E)(1) of the Indian Railways Act, 1989, and an award was made on 8 February 2010, leaving out a parcel of 0.0624 hectare. The High Court ordered compensation for the left out parcel but limited additional …

UNION OF INDIAversusM/S INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.

2024 INSC 243Dismissed

The Union of India (railways) charged Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) freight on the Baad‑Hisar route based on a chargeable distance of 444 km as per the old local distance table. In 2005 the railways revised the distance to 334 km, claiming the earlier figure was erroneous, and IOC sought a refund of …

KAMUKAYI & ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

2023 INSC 541Appeal(s) allowed

The deceased, Muchamy @ Muthusamy, fell from a moving passenger train on 27 September 2014 and died on the spot. His son purchased a valid ticket for the journey and handed it to him; the incident was investigated under Rule 7 of the Railway Passengers (Manner of Investigation of Untoward Incidents) …

K SIVARAMAN & ORS.versusP SATHISHKUMAR & ANR.

2020 INSC 180Dismissed

The appellants, parents and siblings of a deceased employee, claimed compensation under the Employee's Compensation Act, 1923 for a fatal accident that occurred on 31 January 2008. The High Court enhanced the compensation by applying the post‑amendment monthly wage ceiling of Rs 8,000, invoking the …

NARESHBHAI BHAGUBHAI & ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2019 INSC 895Appeal(s) allowed

The appellants, land owners of about six kilometres of land in Surat, Gujarat, challenged the acquisition of 131 kilometres of land for the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, arguing that the Competent Authority failed to comply with Section 20D(2) of the Railways Act, 1989 by not passing a …

NAGARAJversusUNION OF INDIA

2019 INSC 250Case Partly allowed

The appellant, a bus driver for the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, collided with a railway level‑crossing gate on 3 August 2006, breaking it. He was convicted under Section 160(2) of the Railways Act, 1989 and sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment by the trial court, a decision …

UNION OF INDIAversusRADHA YADAV

2019 INSC 109Disposed off

In 2003 a railway passenger, Dasarath Yadav, died after his head struck a post when he leaned out of a train compartment. The Railway Claims Tribunal held he was responsible for his own death and denied compensation under Section 123 of the Railways Act, 1989. The High Court reversed, invoking …

UNION OF INDIAversusRINA DEVI

2018 INSC 469Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined a claim for compensation under Sections 124 and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989 filed by Rina Devi for the death of her husband who fell from a train while boarding. The Court clarified that compensation is payable as of the date of the accident with reasonable interest, …

ANIL KUMAR GUPTAversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2016 INSC 497Disposed off

The petition arose from a tragic incident on 1 February 2011 when over two lakh candidates gathered for an ITBP recruitment drive in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and, after the drive was postponed, many climbed onto the roof of the Himgiri Express. The train, travelling at 75 kmph, struck a low …

MOHD. JALEES ANSARI AND OTHERSversusCENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

2016 INSC 402Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of sixteen accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for a series of bomb blasts on Indian trains in December 1993. The Court held that Section 20A(1) of TADA makes prior approval of the District Superintendent of …

M/S. S.K.L. CO.versusCHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER & ORS.

2015 INSC 945Disposed off

The appellant, M/s. S.K.L. Co., challenged a notification by the Railways that leased Front Second Class Luggage Rakes (FSLR) and Ventilated Parcel Vans (VP) to private lessees through an auction, alleging that the lease violated Sections 70 and 71 of the Railways Act, 1989 by giving undue …

U.P. POWER CORPORATION LTD. AND ORS.versusANIS AHMED

2013 INSC 394Appeal(s) allowed

The Supreme Court examined whether industrial/commercial electricity users could file complaints before a Consumer Forum against assessment orders under Section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003 or actions under Sections 135‑140 of the same Act. The petitioners (U.P. Power Corporation Ltd. and …

STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusKAMAL AHMED MOHAMMED VAKIL ANSARI & ORS.

2013 INSC 162Appeal(s) allowed

The case concerned two separate prosecutions arising from the July 2006 Mumbai suburban train bomb blasts. In Special Case No. 21 of 2006, the accused‑respondents sought to summon four Deputy Commissioners of Police (who had recorded confessional statements of three other accused in a later Special …

SHREE SHYAM AGENCYversusUNION OF INDIA & OTHERS

2012 INSC 485Dismissed

Shree Shyam Agency, a sugar manufacturer, booked a consignment under a "Self" basis and retained the railway receipt, but the buyer failed to pay and the goods were delivered to a third party without authority. The agency filed a claim petition before the Railway Claims Tribunal seeking compensation …

DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR CORPORATION OF INDIAversusSUBODH SINGH & ORS.

2011 INSC 239Appeal(s) allowed

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation acquired land for a special railway project under the Railways Act, 1989. After a gazette notification of acquisition on 16‑Dec‑2008, a public notice was published in newspapers on 20‑Feb‑2009 and the compensation award was made on 8‑Feb‑2010. The landowner …

JAMEELA AND ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA

2010 INSC 547Appeal(s) allowed

The deceased M. Hafeez was traveling on a valid ticket when he fell from a moving train and died. His family claimed compensation under the Railways Act, 1989, and the Railway Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.2,00,000, deeming the death an "untoward incident". The railway appealed, arguing the death …

TAHAZHATHE PURAYIL SARABI & ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.

2009 INSC 815Appeal(s) allowed

The appellants' husband was robbed and thrown from a moving train in 1998, resulting in his death. The appellants filed a claim for compensation before the Railway Claims Tribunal, which awarded Rs.4 lakh in 2007 but granted interest only in case of default. The appellants appealed, arguing that …

UNION OF INDIAversusPRABHAKARAN VIJAYA KUMAR & ORS.

2008 INSC 577Dismissed

The Supreme Court examined a claim for compensation under the Railways Act, 1989 after a bona‑fide passenger, Smt. Abja, fell onto the tracks while trying to board a moving train and was run over. The issue was whether such a fall fell within the expression “accidental falling of a passenger from a …

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.versusSTATE OF U.P. AND ORS.

2007 INSC 1116Dismissed

The Uttar Pradesh Jal Sansthan, created under the U.P. Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1975, supplied water and maintained sewerage for railway colonies and stations and demanded service charges from the Railways. The Union of India contended that these charges were a tax on Union property and …

STATE OF MADHYA PRADESHversusMUKESH AND ORS.

2006 INSC 718Disposed off

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged three reservation clerks with abetting Suresh Shah in the illegal procurement and sale of railway tickets under Sections 143(1) and 143(2) of the Railways Act, 1989. Shah was arrested with a large number of tickets and cash, but later absconded, and the clerks …

MAULAVI HUSSEIN HAJI ABRAHAM UMARIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT AND ANR.

2004 INSC 409Dismissed

The appellant, Maulavi Hussein Haji Abraham Umari, was arrested in connection with a train attack and initially placed in police custody. An application under Section 49(2) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) was filed to extend his police remand beyond the statutory 30‑day limit, and …

SUMATIDEVI M. DHANWATAYversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

2004 INSC 241Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, an elderly woman, was assaulted and had valuables stolen during a mob attack on a railway train. She claimed the Railway administration failed to provide protection, constituting deficiency in service, and filed a complaint before the Maharashtra State Consumer Commission, which …

FEDERATION OF RAILWAY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA

2003 INSC 178Dismissed

The Federation of Railway Officers Association challenged the Government's decision to create seven new railway zones, alleging that the move violated Section 3 of the Railways Act, 1989 because it was not based on administrative efficiency and was driven by political and backward‑area …

RATHI MENONversusUNION OF INDIA

2001 INSC 140Appeal(s) allowed

Rathi Menon, a 22‑year‑old passenger, was thrown from a train in 1996, sustaining paraplegia and loss of both an arm and a leg. She filed a claim for compensation under Section 124A of the Railways Act, 1989 before the Railway Claims Tribunal. While the claim was pending, Rule 3(2) of the Railway …

JAGJIT COTTON TEXTILE MILLSversusCHIEF COMMERCIAL SUPERINTENDENT N.R. AND ORS.

1998 INSC 190Dismissed

The petitioners, consignees of coal, challenged the Railway's recovery of penal charges under Rule 161‑A of the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA) Rules for loading wagons beyond the permissible carrying capacity. The Supreme Court examined whether Rule 161‑A was inconsistent with or ultra …

P.A. NARYANANversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1998 INSC 95Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant's wife was assaulted and robbed on a running local train in 1981. She pulled the alarm chain, but the guard and motorman failed to stop the train, and she later died from her injuries. The Railway Board denied compensation, holding that liability arose only in railway accidents, and …

SALES TAX OFFICER KANPUR AND ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ANR

1994 INSC 527

Twenty-six packages of utensils were seized by a Uttar Pradesh sales tax officer because they were being transported without the required documents. The railway argued that the goods were moving from a railway godown to a city booking agency, which it claimed was part of the "Railway" under the …

HINDALCO INDUSTRLES LTD.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1993 INSC 391Dismissed

Hindalco Industries Ltd. complained that the Indian Railways continued to levy freight charges based on an inflated distance of 714 km even after a new line reduced the actual distance to 568 km. The company filed a complaint under Section 36(b) of the Railways Act, 1989 seeking a declaration that …