In a significant intervention, India’s Supreme Court has gone the extra mile to ensure justice for a widow who has been fighting for compensation for 23 years after her husband’s death in a train accident. The apex court directed the Railways to pay ₹4 lakh with 6% annual interest to Saynokta Devi, whose husband, Vijay Singh, tragically fell from the Bhagalpur-Danapur Intercity Express in 2002 at the originating station due to overcrowding and died instantly.
The legal battle for compensation was arduous, with both the Railway Claims Tribunal and the Patna High Court initially denying Devi’s claim. The grounds for denial were that the deceased was of unsound mind, a reasoning the Supreme Court vehemently rejected in 2023 as “completely absurd” and “contrary to the undisputed facts on record.” The court highlighted that purchasing a valid train ticket and boarding the train independently would have been impossible for someone of unsound mind.
Adding to the widow’s hardship, her local counsel, who was supposed to inform her of the favourable Supreme Court order, passed away. Meanwhile, the Railways, despite having sanctioned the compensation, faced difficulties in disbursing the amount due to an incorrect address, leading them to approach the Supreme Court again to express their inability to comply with the order.
Acknowledging the woman’s family circumstances that led her to move from her original residence, the Supreme Court took proactive steps. It ordered the Eastern Railway to publish a public notice in leading newspapers, detailing the acceptance of her claim and how she could claim the compensation by providing necessary documents. Additionally, the court directed local police officials to verify her whereabouts and inform her of her entitlement.
The court’s proactive approach also involved seeking assistance from the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to physically locate the widow. Following efforts by the Railways and local police, it was discovered that a wrong village name in her records had caused communication failures. The police successfully located the woman and her family, paving the way for the compensation to be disbursed. The Supreme Court has now directed the Railways to ensure the payment is deposited in her bank account, with the assistance of local authorities, to finally close this long-standing chapter of legal struggle.