Title - Kerala : Refusal of coins: Railways told to pay compensation

Booking clerk refuses to accept 25 paise coins
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The Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Railways to pay compensation to a passenger from Kannur for its refusal to accept coins given by him towards ticket charge.

The commission, headed by its judicial member K. Chandradas Nadar, issued the directive while allowing an appeal by Sasi, an artist, from Kannur against the decision of the Kannur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.

Directive

His plea for compensation was rejected by the district forum. The commission directed the Station Master of Kannur railway station and the booking clerk to pay Rs.3,000 as compensation to Mr. Sasi.

Mr. Sasi, in his complaint said that, he had gone to the Kannur railway station ticket counter at 10.30 a.m. on March 9, 2011, to buy a ticket for his journey from Kannur to Mahe on the Mangalore-Coimbatore passenger train.

When he gave the ticket charge of five rupees in different denominations of rupees and coins (Rs.2+Rs.2+50 paise+ 25paise+25paise), the booking clerk had pushed the coins aside saying that those coins were “not legal tender and she would not accept them.”

He told her that 25 paise coins would be withdrawn from circulation only with effect from June 30, 2011, and specified banks would exchange the coins till June 29.

However, the clerk stuck to her stand. When he persisted with his demand, she asked him to go away.

The station master had then advised him to take a ticket using rupee as the train would soon pull in. He had promised action after enquiry. The commission observed that the opposite parties took the stand that it was practically impossible to count the coins at that time when there was a heavy rush for tickets. But that was not the “concern of a passenger.”

During peak hours, it was the duty of Railways to open more counters to cater to the needs of the travelling public.

There was no dispute over the fact that the booking clerk, Sheji, had refused to accept the 25 paisa coins.

The reason appeared to be the withdrawal of coins with denomination of 25 paisa from circulation with effect from June 30, 2011. But the coins could be exchanged at the various branches of the specified banks.

Part of government

The commission pointed out that Railways were part of the government and the coins would go directly into the treasury of the government and ultimately to the Reserve Bank of India.

Therefore, the reason cited was not sufficient to refuse 25 paisa coins that remained legal tender when the complainant offered them on March 9, 2011.

The commission also added that it was a “ground reality that often public get arrogant and humiliating treatment from government servants. It should be the concern of those in power as well to treat the public with dignity.”