RAHUL vs UNION OF INDIA

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Reserved on : 23.01.2026 Pronounced on : 03.02.2026 Uploaded on : 03.02.2026 + FAO 18/2026 RAHUL .....Appellant Through: Mr. Rajan Sood, Advocate. versus UNION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Neeraj Kumar (CGSC) with Mr. Shashwat, Advocate CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ KUMAR OHRI JUDGMENT 1. The present appeal has been preferred assailing the judgment dated 12.12.2025 passed by the Railway Claims Tribunal, Principal Bench, Delhi (hereinafter “the Tribunal”) in Case No. OA/(II)U/DLI/715/2025, vide which the appellant’s claim seeking compensation was dismissed. 2. Notably, the appellant had preferred the said claim application alleging that on 30.01.2025, he was travelling from New Delhi to Basti in the Vaishali Express train. It was pleaded that due to a heavy rush, he was compelled to stand near the gate of the compartment, and on account of a sudden jerk of the train and thrust given by passengers, he fell and suffered amputation of his left leg. 3. Vide the impugned judgment, the Tribunal returned a finding in favour of the appellant insofar as himbeing a bona fide passenger holding a valid Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NIJAMUDDEEN ANSARI FAO 18/2026 Page 1 of 5 Signing Date:03.02.2026 18:15:26 train ticket is concerned. However, the appellant’s claim seeking compensation was rejected, concluding that his injuries were self-inflicted, occasioned by his own state of intoxication, and not due to any “untoward incident” as defined under Section 123(c)(2) of the Railways Act, 1989 (hereinafter “the Act”). 4. The Tribunal primarily rested its conclusions on the hospital discharge summary and the evidence of the attending doctor, Dr. (Prof.)ShamimAhmed (RW-1), to conclude that the appellant was under the infl