Railway cancelled train but withheld return fare; commission orders Rs 23,350 payout
A consumer commission in Sonipat has ordered the Indian Railway board to refund a passenger for a cancelled return ticket and pay additional compensation for litigation. The railway had initially refused the refund, claiming the passenger did not cancel the ticket himself despite the train being officially cancelled.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights consumer rights protections against large state-run entities and clarifies refund obligations during service disruptions.
NEW DELHI: The Sonipat district consumer commission has directed the railway board to refund Rs 7,350 to a passenger after it allegedly forfeited the fare for his return train ticket when services to Katra were cancelled amid landslides during the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in August 2025. The commission also awarded Rs 5,000 as compensation and Rs 11,000 towards litigation expenses. The order was passed on September 21, 2026.Why did the passenger approach the commission?According to the commission order, Baldev Raj Narang booked two train tickets for travel from New Delhi to Katra on August 31, 2025, and the return journey from Katra to New Delhi on September 1, 2025. The two tickets cost Rs 7,350 each, taking the total to Rs 14,700.The landslides on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage routes led to the cancellation of the pilgrimage and railway services to Katra were also suspended.
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