GRP and RPF personnel will have to obtain valid permission or purchase tickets for train travel. Just carrying identity cards is not enough, the Railway Claims Tribunal has said while dismissing a compensation plea filed by a constable.
He had claimed that he was on official duty when he fell from the train. The Ahmedabad bench of the tribunal also pointed out the casual attitude of the railways with regard to the circular for issuing duty card passes to GRP personnel who have to travel frequently.
The constable had demanded compensation of Rs 8 lakh
GRP constable Rajesh Bagul had filed a petition in the tribunal seeking compensation of Rs 8 lakh with interest from the Railways. He claimed that he was on duty on the day of the accident. According to the petition, Bagul had gone to Surat Railway Police Station for official duty on November 13, 2019.
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He was returning from Surat to Bharuch by Surat-Jamnagar Intercity train. During this, he fell at Palej station, due to which he suffered serious injuries to his left leg and a part of the leg had to be amputated.
The tribunal gave its verdict
Rejecting the petition, Tribunal Member (Judicial) Vinay Goyal said that Bagul has failed to produce any valid travel permission to prove his official travel claims. He said that in the absence of a valid travel permission, the applicant cannot be considered a genuine traveler. Along with this, he stressed that the Railways should follow the circular issued regarding granting valid travel permission to GRP and RPF officers.
