Missing train ticket no bar to compensation claim: SC ruling

The Supreme Court has clarified that compensation claims for deaths occurring during train travel cannot be dismissed merely because the original ticket issued to the deceased passenger has not been recovered by authorities.

The bench made the observation while examining a case where the parents of the deceased had filed a compensation claim application before the relevant tribunal. Following the filing of the claim, the railway authorities had prepared an investigation report as part of the proceedings.

The Court's ruling addresses a procedural gap that has often complicated compensation claims in railway accident and death cases. By establishing that a missing ticket should not be treated as conclusive evidence against a claimant's case, the judgment provides important relief to families of deceased passengers.

The decision underscores the importance of examining substantive evidence of a passenger's journey and death, rather than relying solely on documentary records that may be lost or unretrieved during investigations. Railway authorities will now need to assess compensation claims on their merits using available evidence, including investigation reports and statements from claimants.

The ruling is expected to ease the path for grieving families seeking compensation in cases where railway authorities have failed to recover or produce original tickets as part of accident investigations.