Missed Exam Due to Train Delay, UP Student Wins This much as Compensation After 7 Years

What began as an ordinary train journey from Uttar Pradesh’s Basti district to Lucknow in May 2018 ended up altering the course of a young student’s life. Samriddhi, who had spent an entire year preparing for a BSc Biotechnology entrance examination, never made it to the exam hall. Her intercity superfast train as per reports arrived more than two hours late, leaving her stranded with no chance of appearing for one of the most important tests of her academic journey.Her examination centre was Jai Narayan PG College in Lucknow. The train, as per a report by India Today, was scheduled to reach the city at 11 am, giving her a reasonable buffer before candidates were required to report by 12.30 pm. Instead, the train pulled in nearly two-and-a-half

hours late. By the time Samriddhi reached the city, the gates had closed and her opportunity was gone. With it, she lost an entire academic year.

Seven Years in Court

Aggrieved and unwilling to let the matter rest, Samriddhi approached the district consumer commission, seeking Rs 20 lakh in compensation. Notices were issued to the Railway Ministry, the general manager, and the station superintendent. However, according to court records as cited by India Today, the responses offered no satisfactory explanation for the delay.After a legal battle that stretched for more than seven years, the consumer commission ruled in her favour. While the Railways admitted that the train had been delayed, they failed to justify why it happened or why passengers were not safeguarded from its consequences.The commission held the Railways accountable for failing to provide timely service and directed them to pay Rs 9.10 lakh in compensation within 45 days, a report by India Today stated. The order stated that if the amount is not paid within the stipulated period, it would attract an additional 12 percent interest.

'Failed to justify'

Samriddhi’s lawyer, Prabhakar Mishra, said the incident occurred on May 7, 2018, when she was travelling to Lucknow to appear for the entrance exam. “The train delay prevented her from reaching the centre on time and her entire academic year was lost,” he said as quoted by India Today.Mishra described the prolonged legal fight as exhausting but necessary. “The Railways admitted the delay but failed to justify it. The court therefore imposed a substantial penalty,” he added.