Dear Sir,
This is for the second time that I am writing this complaint. I am hopeful that some action will be taken against the defaulting ticket checker.
I want to describe one of the most horrendous and most derogatory incidence, which happened in Pune station yesterday evening.
I, with my wife, 2 years old daughter, my sister, nephew and niece had come to see off my old parents who were travelling via Jhelum express. They were going on a pilgrimage organized by a Private Tour and the tour manager had purchased all the tickets including for all those who had come to see their relatives off.
After seeing them off when we were trying to get out of the Pune station so called Ticket checker named Rashmi and her male TC colleague asked for the Platform tickets which we obviously did not have and the Tour manager who had purchased the tickets had already left the station. We knew that we were in fix, we tried to explain the case to both of them who were not in a mood to listen. And the madam and her colleague were in mood to eagerly book their first ever case against us by accusing us and especially me by charging any offenses (which they could fancy in their wildest of imagination) like use of abusive language, putting me only behind the bar for arguing with them and so on and forth even after we paid the penalty of Rs.800. (I do not know how the calculation works out to) No, please hold on the story does not end here.
No the madam ticket checker was not in a mood to let us go so easily and without creating a scene for everyone. She than literally man handled my 12 year old nice catching her by collar of her shirt and pushing her to the side again now allegating that she had abused her and now she was determined to put her in Child remand home at any cost. Lo and behold the bravery of other Ticket checkers (4 lady checker and 1 male checker and 2 other officers who pounced from no where) they all 'gheraoed' 12 year old kid and her mother and pounced on them like hungry wolves, lest they should run away. I am not sure which rule/Act allows the Ticket Checkers to do manhandle a minor girl and poor and helpless mother. The victorious team of our respected Ticket checkers almost drag the two ladies to the Station Master's Room. The issue is now tried to be resolved by the stationmaster. Mean while unaware of what has happened at the back I alongwith my wife and two year old daughter try to search for my hapless sister, niece and nephew who after a search of 30 minutes I found out in Station Master's room. But no I have to be a mute spectator as if I intervene than they will aggravate the issue and put me first behind the bars. So I have to remain a silent spectator in front of the great lady ticket checker who was out to take out the full Vendetta against 12 year old kid and was seemingly not in a mood to release her. But now even I am accused of using the bad words. After 2 hours of immense mental torture the kind team of ticket checkers release my sister and niece. This is the first hand incidence as has happened.
My simple question is, are the Indian Citizens like me so helpless in front of the authority who are out full fledged in taking out the personal vendetta even against 12 year old girl?
Few points for thought
- Can the Ticket checking be done by the authorities (not in uniform and with batch) who are not seemingly the authorities. I conclude this as I saw the wagon of all these lady ticket checker and 1 male ticket checker reporting to one authority in the Station Master's cabin
- Is the penalty that was levied on us appropriate as the receipt that was issued to us did not have the legible handwriting to make us understand what was the penalty for and one of the receipts bore the stamp Talegaon Cog. I am not sure what does it mean and whether it is correct to issue receipt with that stamp from Pune station.
- Is it legally correct to take out the personal vendetta against 12 year old girl, even after we have paid the fine.
- Is it that law fearing persons like us have to haplessly keep on listening to whatever list of charges which the authorities keep on levying without any logical reasoning, just to satisfy their fantasies or plummet their self pride. I am using the word hapless as no authority seemed to be in a mood to listen to our case and frightened us of dire consequences if we at all dared to even open the mouth.
- Is going on Platform without tickets such a big crime to devastatingly torture a 12 year old kid with the worst of criminal allegations? Can anybody answer this?
Parag Calcuttawala
09422501644
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