EXCERPT FROM ORDER BY NATIONAL COMISSION
This case filed in District Forum, Chennai North, case No 838/2003
illustrates how government officials frustrate beneficial schemes to render
citizens helpless.Mrs Shripa Sengupta,64 yrs old was accosted by a railway
staff member at Chennai Railway Station who without bribe,refused to accept
her age stated in medical papers(health card) which also informed she was
visiting Chennai for surgery. She was kept on the platform, not permitted
to see the Station master nor call up the Hospital.He inflicted a charge ogf
Rs3,806/-, as ticketless traveller.
Thereafter, even though she went to The Public Grievance Cell,
submitting her passport as proof of age, her money was not refunded! So she
went to the Consumer Courts.The Final Ruling(Transfer petition No4 of
2004)"A PUBLIC FUNCTIONARY IF HE ACTS MALICIOUSLY OR OPRESSIVELY,AND THE
EXERCISE OF POWER RESULTS IN HARASSMENT AND AGONY,THEN IT IS NOT AN EXERCISE
OF POWER BUT ABUSE! NO LAW PROVIDES PROTECTION AGAINST IT. HE WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IT MUST SUFFER.Harassment of a common man by public
authorities is socially abhorring and legally impermissible.....Therefore
the award of compensation for harassment by public authorities not only
compensates the individual but helps in curing social evil.It may result
in improving the work culture and help in changing the outlook. We direct
the respondents to refund the amount of Rs3806/- charged as penalty and also
pay a compensation of Rs 25,000/- ."
I may also state from practical experience,that The Public Grievance
Cells are just another inefficient arm of the government. The ineffective
Goa Cell is shifted from Patto Plaza to St Inez .I had to go there to
discover this. E mail cc to The National Grievance Cell
brings forth not even an acknowledgement
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