In Brief
A widow and minor son sought compensation from Indian Railways for the death of their breadwinner, who allegedly fell from a moving train in Ujjain in 2017. Although no ticket was physically recovered from the body, the widow's affidavit and official railway (DRM) records verified that a valid ticket had been issued on the fatal date. The railway tribunal and high court dismissed the claim, citing procedural defects. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that official ticket verification constitutes prima facie proof of passenger status; procedural lapses cannot defeat a legitimate claim under the no-fault liability regime of Section 124-A. Awarded Rs. 8 lakhs compensation with 6% interest, establishing that welfare statute proceedings apply a lower evidentiary standard than criminal trials.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.