An Andhra Pradesh district consumer disputes redressal commission has directed East Coast Railway to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to a 21-year-old engineering graduate who suffered severe leg injuries when an unattended power tool struck her on a station platform.
The three-member bench, comprising President R. Chiranjeevi and members C. Shanmukha Rao and G. Radha Rani, ruled that the railway administration committed a deficiency in service by failing to enforce adequate safety precautions during platform maintenance work. The commission held that maintaining safe premises for passengers is a non-delegable duty that public transport authorities cannot avoid by assigning work to third-party contractors.
Accident On Srikakulam Platform
The incident occurred at Srikakulam Road Railway Station while the complainant was waiting on the platform with her parents and sister to catch the Amaravathi Express for a pilgrimage to Srisailam.
According to the complaint, maintenance workers executing platform repairs left a electric drilling machine unattended during a power outage. When electricity was restored, the unattended machine automatically restarted and struck the passenger’s left leg, causing major fractures.
The victim required surgery to insert titanium nails and locking screws into her leg. She noted that additional surgical procedures would be necessary to remove the hardware, and that the permanent physical impacts hindered her mobility, career prospects, and personal life.
Railways Defense Rejected
In its response to the complaint, East Coast Railway contended that it bore no legal liability for the mishap. The administration cited its General Conditions of Contract, arguing that the independent contractor was exclusively accountable for public safety while executing site works. Additionally, the railway noted that the victim had previously received a Rs 2.6 lakh settlement from the contractor’s representatives, claiming she concealed this detail in her consumer filing.
The consumer commission dismissed the railway administration’s arguments, ruling that purchasing a valid train ticket establishes a contractual service relationship that obligates the carrier to provide a safe platform environment.
The panel highlighted that the railway authority produced no evidence to demonstrate that barricades, warning indicators, or safety barriers were deployed around the active work zone on a platform open to passengers.
Impact On Future Prospects
Addressing the quantum of compensation, the panel observed that physical disabilities suffered by a young woman carry long-term personal, social, and matrimonial repercussions that must be factored into financial awards.
The commission ordered East Coast Railway to compensate the complainant for mental agony, loss of earnings, physical disability, and deficiency in service, establishing that public authorities must demonstrate proactive safety measures to prevent accidents within their premises.
