The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant ruling stating that a passenger falling from an upper berth inside a moving train qualifies as an untoward incident under the Railways Act of 1989. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri presided over the case and set aside a previous Railway Claims Tribunal order that had unfairly dismissed a compensation claim. The court noted that such tragic incidents cannot be disregarded simply because a post-mortem report points to myocardial infarction as the cause of death. Railway travellers and families seeking justice can now rely on this clear legal precedent regarding accidental falls during train journeys. The Delhi High Court has officially ruled that falling from an upper berth is an untoward incident, setting aside a previous Railway Claims Tribunal order that dismissed a rightful compensation claim, and established that post-mortem reports indicating myocardial infarction cannot invalidate the claim without proof of pre-existing conditions. The matter has now been remanded back to the tribunal with strict instructions to finalize compensation proceedings and disburse the amount within two months of receiving the court order, with the next hearing scheduled at the Tribunal on September 30, 2026.
The legal battle arose from the tragic death of
Sanjeev Kumar, who fell from an upper berth on the
Etawah-Agra Cantt Shuttle MEMU, train number 64157, on November 10, 2015, following a sudden and violent jerk of the coach. The appellants, including
Shyam Singh, saw their initial compensation claim rejected by the Railway Claims Tribunal, prompting them to approach the High Court for relief. During the proceedings, Justice Ohri carefully observed that
there was no medical or documentary evidence indicating that the deceased suffered from any pre-existing cardiac conditions prior to boarding the train.
Under
sections 123(c) and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989, the court strongly clarified that the railway administration remains strictly liable to pay compensation for injuries or death resulting from an untoward incident. The legal definition of an untoward incident explicitly includes the accidental falling of a passenger from a train carrying passengers. Because the fall was triggered by a sudden jerk on a moving train, it firmly falls within the statutory definition, ensuring passenger rights are protected under railway law.
Following the landmark ruling, the High Court has remanded the matter back to the Railway Claims Tribunal to determine the appropriate compensation amount for the bereaved family. The tribunal has been formally directed to finalize these proceedings promptly, ensuring that
the compensation is disbursed within two months of receiving the court order. The case is officially scheduled for its next hearing at the Tribunal on
September 30, 2026.
