Passengers should protect their luggage from theft, not railways: Delhi HC

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Wednesday said a passenger travelling in a train was responsible for the safety of their luggage and railways was not liable for any theft unless there was negligence or misconduct by its officials.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja passed the verdict while hearing a man's plea alleging he was travelling in a 3rd AC coach and his backpack, having his laptop, charger, eye glasses and ATM cards, was stolen during the journey from New Delhi to Nagpur in Jan, 2013.

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had previously dismissed his claim of Rs 84,000 for the loss of goods aside from Rs 1 lakh for harassment due to deficiency in services. The high court upheld the panel's decision and said the claim was based on the fact that the attendant was sleeping and rude and the conductor was not traceable.

However, the court said, there was "not even a whisper" of the doors of the coach being left open to enable some unauthorised intruder to commit the theft. pti