CHANDIGARH, January 9: The UT District Consumer Forum-II has directed the New Delhi Railway Station authorities to compensate a passenger for the loss of luggage from the cloakroom of the railway station.CPL Gattu Venkateshwarlu, employed in the Air Force and posted at Chandigarh, travelled from Chandigarh to Kazipet and on the way, deposited his suitcase in the cloakroom at the New Delhi Railway station. But, the luggage was not returned despite the complainant's repeated efforts to recover it.
The station authorities only challenged the jurisdiction of the forum and appealed that the complaint either be transferred to the Railways Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh, or presented under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987.
The forum, comprising its president R.P. Bajaj and members H.S. Walia and Kamlesh Gupta, observed that the case was not covered by the said Act. Also, the opposite party could not be given more time as demanded to trace out the luggage, as 14 months had already lapsed.
The luggage
included 16 items, including Rs 4,100 in cash and four bottles of liquor. The forum observed that as the complainant was carrying a demand draft for Rs 1,000, there was no justification for him to carry Rs 4,100 in cash in the luggage, especially as it was being deposited in the cloakroom. Also, the suitcase was too small to carry four bottles of liquor besides other items.
The forum directed compensation of Rs 11,230 along with Rs 250 as costs and interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of deposit of the luggage till the date of payment.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
