HC Grants Compensation to Bereaved Couple, Slams Railway Authorities for 'Paltry' Sum

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In a landmark judgment, the Bombay High Court has granted compensation to a bereaved couple whose 17-year-old son died in a railway accident in 2008. The court rejected the Railways Claims Tribunal's decision to reject the claim, citing a lack of official records of the incident. According to the parents' appeal, their son, Jaideep Tambe, was traveling with friends on the Western Railway's suburban line when he fell between Elphinstone and Lower Parel stations due to overcrowding. Despite their friends' efforts to save him, Tambe was declared dead on arrival at KEM Hospital. The railway authorities had opposed the parents' claim, arguing that there was no official record of the accident. However, the high court ruled that the circumstances surrounding the incident suggested that an 'untoward incident' had occurred on the tracks. The court noted that the parents' loss was 'unimaginable' and that they would not have made a false claim for compensation. The high court granted the parents ₹4 lakh with 6% interest from the date of the accident, with a cap of ₹8 lakh on the total amount. The ruling is seen as a victory for the bereaved couple, who had been fighting for compensation for over a decade. The court's judgment highlights the need for a more compassionate approach to handling claims under the Railways Act, which is meant to provide relief to those affected by railway accidents. The decision is expected to have a significant impact on future cases involving railway accidents and compensation claims.