An Indian lawyer, Tungnath Chaturvedi, has won a 22-year court battle against Indian Railways demanding a refund for the 21p he was overcharged on a ticket back in 1999. Last week, the 66-year-old man was finally given the money back, along with two decades worth of interest – a grand total of £2.90. He was also given the £154 fine imposed on the country’s national rail carrier. After all, 22 years is nothing when your fight is against corruption! Read on to know more about the man’s 22-year-old fight against Indian Railways.
Chaturvedi Attended 100+ Hearings In The Years Since He Filed His Claim Against Indian Railways
It was in 1999 that Tungnath Chaturvedi bought a ticket at Mathura station in Uttar Pradesh to go to Moradabad, and was charged 90 rupees instead of 70. His immediate complaint against the Indian Railways went on deaf ears, he revealed to the BBC. Chaturvedi then filed a complaint with the local consumer court in Mathura. The complaint was against the North East Railways Service division of Indian Railways. And it took 100 hearings since then, for the court to rule in his favor last week. The verdict ordered the Indian Railways to pay a fine of 15,000 rupees as well as 12% interest, and given the sum is not paid in 30 days, the interest will rise to 15%. The final win meant everything to Chaturvedi but he also lamented and told the BBC, “You can’t put a price on the energy and time I’ve lost fighting this case.”
Mr. Chaturvedi Hopes His Example Would Inspire Other Indians
A fight against Indian Railways isn’t easy. And Mr. Chaturvedi did it for 22 years. Totally inspiring, we say. The man revealed to the BBC that he hoped his example would inspire others by showing them that one doesn’t need to give up even when the fight looks tough. The man also focused on the fact that it took him so long because of the slow pace of the Indian justice system. But in the end, his 22 years old fighting was worth it.
“It’s not the money that matters. This was always about a fight for justice and a fight against corruption, so it was worth it,” Chaturvedi added.
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