TTEs sell train berths like vegetables in the market, says High Court, directs Railways

Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: A section of TTEs (Travelling Ticket Examiners) sell empty train berths like vegetables in the market. Such was the strong comment made by the Calcutta High Court. In view of that, the Division Bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury has directed the General Managers of every zone in the country to take strict action against the culprits. The High Court commented, 'This court is compelled to send a copy of this judgment to the General Managers of Eastern Railway and other railways (zones) of the country, so that the maximum punishment is ensured against the TTEs who sell empty train berths like vegetables in the market.'

Incident of New Jalpaiguri-Sealdah Teesta Torsa Express

And last week, the High Court made the same comment in the incident of looting of the New Jalpaiguri-Sealdah Teesta Torsa Express. According to a report by news agency PTI, it has been alleged that in February 2009, two people got a berth by paying a TTE while travelling from New Jalpaiguri to Sealdah by taking a ticket without reservation. Later, the two criminals robbed them of everything they owned after giving them sleeping pills. One of them, who had co-morbidities, also died. 'A matter of great concern'

The division bench of the High Court said that the TTE who was on duty on the Teesta Torsa Express from New Jalpaiguri to Sealdah, allotted a berth or seat to two passengers without any reservation and the serious negligence of other TTEs who were on duty before and after him till Sealdah is 'a matter of great concern'.

'The TTE concerned was bribed to get a berth'

The division bench said that this crime was primarily due to the negligence of the TTEs of the Indian Railways. In February 2009, Arun Chakraborty and Sunilkumar Das boarded the Teesta Torsa Express without reservation. And following the usual practice, they got a berth by bribing the TTE concerned. According to the report, a lawyer said that it is not very difficult to identify those who are given a berth on the train in exchange for bribes despite not having a reservation. Such passengers do not go through the prescribed reservation process of the railways, where names and phone numbers have to be given.