Kolkata: Calcutta High Court has strongly criticised the illegal practice of some Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) allegedly selling vacant train berths for money. The court compared the practice to selling vegetables in a market and directed Indian Railways to take the strictest possible action against such employees. The observation came while hearing a criminal appeal linked to the death of a train passenger after he was allegedly drugged and robbed in 2009.
Court Directives on Illegal Train Berth Sale Case
A Division Bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Bibhas Ranjan De was hearing an appeal in a 2009 railway crime case. The court said that some TTEs illegally allot vacant berths to passengers without valid reservations after taking cash. According to the judges, this practice creates opportunities for criminals to target unsuspecting passengers.
The bench observed that vacant berths were allegedly being sold “like vegetables in a market” and asked the General Managers of all railway zones to ensure maximum departmental penalties against such employees.
What Happened in the 2009 Illegal Train Berth Sale Case
The incident dates back to February 2009. Two passengers travelling without reserved tickets reportedly paid money to a TTE and received vacant berths on a train travelling from Jalpaiguri towards Sealdah.
Later, two accused allegedly mixed intoxicating substances into food or drinks, robbed the passengers of their valuables and fled. One passenger, who already had several health problems, died after consuming the substance. The other passenger survived.
What Did the High Court Say about the Role of TTEs?
The court stated that the negligence of TTEs was not a minor issue. According to the judges, allowing unauthorized passengers to occupy vacant berths creates an environment where criminals can easily identify and target victims.
The bench observed that such negligence was one of the root causes behind crimes of theft, poisoning and robbery inside trains.
Illegal Train Berth Sale Case: Court Asks Railways to Punish Guilty Employees
The High Court directed that a copy of its judgment be sent to the General Managers of all railway zones across India.
The judges said Railways should impose the maximum available penalties on TTEs found illegally selling vacant berths. The court also stressed that passenger safety must be treated as a top priority.
What Happened to the Convicted Accused
The High Court partly allowed the appeals filed by the two convicted men. The bench ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved the offence under Section 328 of the Indian Penal Code (causing hurt by poison or intoxicating substance). However, the court held that the evidence was not sufficient to sustain the murder conviction under Section 302 IPC and some other charges.
As a result, the court modified the convictions and noted that the maximum proven offence carried a seven-year sentence.
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