UMA SHANKAR SINGH & ANR. vs UNION OF INDIA

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Reserved on : 13.02.2026 Pronounced on : 15.05.2026 Uploaded on : 15.05.2026 + FAO 223/2022 UMA SHANKAR SINGH & ANR. .....Appellants Through: Mr. Rajan Sood, Ms. Ashima Sood, and Ms. Megha Sood, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Raghvendra Shukla, SPC with Mr. Manu Shukla, Mr. Sampan, Mr. Asra C., and Ms. Nandita, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ KUMAR OHRI JUDGMENT 1. The appellants, being the claimants before the Railway Claims Tribunal, Circuit Bench, Delhi (hereinafter “the Tribunal”), are aggrieved by the judgment dated 10.11.2020 passed in Case No. OA-IIu/DLI/2020/162. 2. The claim application seeking death compensation was filed stating therein that one Ankit Singh (since deceased) was undertaking a train journey on 01.08.2016 from Allahabad Railway Station to Ghaziabad through Seemanchal Express No. 12487. The journey was undertaken after purchasing one reserved ticket bearing no. A-59848969, which had been recovered upon a physical search of the body of the deceased. 3. The Tribunal, though it recorded a finding as to the deceased being a Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NIJAMUDDEEN ANSARI FAO 223/2022 Page 1 of 3 Signing Date:15.05.2026 18:59:28 bona fide passenger, dismissed the concerned claim application, as the incident in which the deceased had lost his life was held to not be an “untoward incident” in terms of Section 123(c) of the Railways Act, 1989. 4. Mr. Sood, learned counsel for the appellant, has assailed the impugned judgment by contending that the incident occurred at Phaphund Railway Station, which is 275 kilometers away from Allahabad Railway Station; thus, the journey undertaken by the deceased cannot be doubted. He further contends that the dead body