Indian Railways has issued a definitive clarification regarding the jurisdiction of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), confirming that RPF personnel do not have the authority to check passenger tickets or impose fines for ticketless travel. This announcement, issued by the Assistant Commercial Manager of the Varanasi Division (North Eastern Railway) between July 14 and 15, 2026, aims to clear widespread confusion among rail commuters regarding the specific roles of railway staff.
- Only authorised Ticket Checking Staff (TTE/TC) are empowered to inspect tickets and levy penalties.
- The RPF’s core mandate remains security, crime prevention, and passenger safety.
- RPF officers (ASI rank and above) now hold new powers to fine specific non-ticket related offenses.
- The minimum fine for various railway premises violations has been increased from ₹250 to ₹500.
Understanding the RPF and TTE Roles
According to the Indian Railway Commercial Manual, the responsibility for ticket inspection lies solely with designated commercial staff. While the Railway Board allows RPF personnel to assist the commercial department during joint operations, they are strictly prohibited from conducting independent checks for ticketless travel. Ritesh Vishal, General Secretary of the Ticket Checking Association, has encouraged passengers to report any instances where RPF personnel attempt to carry out ticket inspections, as this falls outside their designated duties.
New Fining Powers for RPF
While ticket checking remains outside their scope, the RPF has been granted expanded authority under the amended Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam. Inspectors of the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector and above are now empowered to issue on-the-spot fines for several safety and nuisance-related violations. These include illegal crossing of tracks, unauthorized vending, smoking in railway premises, littering, and unauthorized travel in coaches reserved for women or persons with disabilities.
Officials, including Senior Divisional Security Commissioners Arun Tripathi (Lucknow) and Anurag Meena (Dhanbad), have confirmed that under these revised rules, the minimum fine for such violations has been hiked to ₹500, up from the previous ₹250. This shift is part of a broader effort to maintain order and cleanliness across railway zones nationwide, with these updates being actively implemented since July 11, 2026.