The Hindu News Update Service default/empty News Update Service Monday, September 29, 2008 : 1625 Hrs
National NCDRC gives hope to couple in their fight for compensation Mumbai (PTI): The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has referred a case, related to a physically handicapped couple, back to the state commission which had rejected the case ten years back. Sixteen years after the couple -- Vinaya and Vilas Sawant -- got severely injured in an accident leaving them physically handicapped, the national commission has referred the case back to the state commission, giving some hopes to them to get justice. On September 29, 1992, the Sawants were walking on a railway overbridge at Jogeshwari, northwest suburb of Mumbai, when the bridge collapsed, killing and injuring several persons. Vinaya, a telephone operator with the MTNL, then moved a complaint with the district forum in 1995 seeking compensation from the Western Railways stating that as they had purchased tickets, they were eligible consumers. The district forum, however, rejected the application stating that railways did not fall in the purview of the forum. The couple then approached the state commission, which too rejected the plea on the same grounds. The national commission, however, differed and observed "a person who purchases a ticket to travel by rail would undoubtedly be a consumer and hence any discomfort caused due to any of the service means, railways would be directly responsible." To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
