Kerala SHRC Directs Railways to Compensate Woman After Ticket Mix-Up Leads to Arrest and Job Loss
K. Jayasmitha, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram, has been awarded ₹2 lakh in compensation by the Kerala State Human Rights Commission after a distressing incident on July 30, 2023. While traveling on train 16348 from Wadakkanchery to Thiruvananthapuram, she was deboarded at midnight despite holding a valid reservation due to a clerical error involving her mobile number.
Incident Details
The trouble began when Jayasmitha boarded the train and found her assigned berth, number 41 in coach S4, occupied by another passenger. The train’s ticket examiner informed her that her ticket had been canceled online because the reservation message was sent to an incorrect mobile number. Unable to pay a fine of ₹500 for a different berth, she was left without accommodation on the train. When the train reached Aluva, she was handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and treated as if she were traveling without a ticket. Jayasmitha was later released on bail, and the Railways withdrew the case after realizing it was incorrectly registered.
Investigation Findings
A departmental inquiry revealed that a digit in Jayasmitha’s mobile number had been altered during the booking process, leading to the cancellation of her ticket by an unknown individual. Jayasmitha claimed the error was made by the booking clerk. She also reported losing her government contract job due to the criminal case stemming from the incident. The commission advised her to seek assistance from the government regarding her employment loss.
Commission’s Ruling
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission held the Railways accountable for both the administrative error and the treatment Jayasmitha received during the incident. Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas ordered the Railways to pay the compensation within one month and mandated written confirmation of the payment. If the compensation is not paid within six weeks, interest at 8% will be applied. The commission found that forcing a woman to leave a train at midnight constituted wrongful action under Section 139 of the Railways Act, violating her right to live with dignity. An inquiry against the responsible officials has also been authorized, and railway authorities have been instructed to ensure the safety of women traveling alone at night.
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