The Supreme Court went beyond its usual judicial role to ensure justice reaches a victim of tragedy. More than two decades after Vijay Singh’s death in a railway accident, the apex court directed the Railways and local authorities in 2023 to compensate his widow, Saynokta Devi, whose struggle for relief has spanned over twenty years.
However, after learning that Devi could not be contacted due to an incorrect address and the death of her lawyer, the Supreme Court ordered the Bakhtiyarpur SHO to assist Railway officials in locating her and depositing the compensation directly into her bank account. The local Gram Panchayat Sarpanch has been tasked with verifying her identity, while the Bihar Legal Services Authority and SSP Nalanda have been asked to submit compliance reports within four weeks.
What was the case?
Devi’s husband Vijay Singh had a valid railway ticket from Bakhtiyarpur station to go to Patna by the Bhagalpur-Danapur Intercity Express on March 21, 2002, but he accidentally fell from the running train at the originating station itself, due to heavy rush inside the compartment and died instantly.
Devi appealed for compensation to the Railways, but her claim was turned down by the Railway Claims Tribunal and the Patna High Court on the ground that the deceased was of unsound mind. After facing the disappointment, she approached the Supreme Court through her lawyer, Fauzia Shakil.
However, the reasons given by the Railway Claims Tribunal and the Patna High Court were rejected by the Supreme Court in 2023. The apex court termed them as “completely absurd, imaginary and contrary to the undisputed facts on record”.
The Supreme Court, on February 2, 2023, noted about the previous decisions that, “What emerges is the fact that the appellant’s claim was not accepted by both the Tribunal and the High Court solely on the ground that the deceased was of unsound mind and he was knocked down by an unidentified train.”
However, a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant had observed that if the deceased had been of unsound mind, ‘it would have been nearly impossible for him to purchase a valid railway ticket for travel to Patna and could not have tried to board the train all by himself’.
Obstacle to the final compensation
The apex court directed the Railways to pay the widow a compensation of Rs 4 lakh within two months with six per cent interest per annum from the date of filing of the claim petition. However, in an unfortunate incident, Devi’s local counsel could not convey the order to her as he passed away.
The Railways approached the Supreme Court after failing to comply with a February 2, 2023, order granting a woman compensation with interest. The Railways informed the court that the amount was sanctioned, but its attempts to contact Devi via multiple letters failed because it did not have her correct address. The Patna High Court was also notified of the issue. The Supreme Court bench noted that the woman had moved from her original address due to family circumstances.
The Supreme Court directed the Railways to immediately pay the compensation to the woman with the help of local police, ordering the SHO, Bakhtiyarpur, to accompany officials and ensure the amount is deposited in her bank account.
Additionally, the Court mandated the Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Eastern Railway, Kolkata, to issue a public notice and ordered the SSP Nalanda and Bihar Legal Services Authority to submit compliance reports on her whereabouts within four weeks. The matter is scheduled for final review on November 24.
(With PTI Inputs)