The incident, reported from Train No. 15013, has now gone viral on social media after a video showed an argument between the passenger and the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) inside the coach.
The incident left many confused as the woman was carrying a valid confirmed ticket. But the issue was reportedly linked to railway boarding rules rather than ticket confirmation.
According to the Economic Times, the woman had booked her reserved berth from Raika Bagh Junction (RKB). Instead of boarding there, she boarded the train later from Pali Marwar (PMY), around two hours after departure from the original station.
By then, railway staff had already marked the passenger as “NT” or “Not Turned Up,” which is a standard railway procedure followed when a passenger does not board from the designated station mentioned in the reservation.
After the berth was marked vacant, it was reportedly allotted to a RAC passenger. The woman then attempted to claim her seat, but the TTE told her that the berth had already been reassigned. Since the boarding point had not been officially updated through the railway system, she was reportedly asked to pay a penalty of ₹ 2,650.
The viral incident has also brought attention to several railway rules that passengers often ignore.
Railway rules passengers should know
If you travel in reserved Sleeper or AC coaches with only a general ticket, then this can lead to a penalty.
There will be no refund in case of Tatkal tickets until the train is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours.
If you cancel your ticket less than four hours before departure, it will cost you 25% of the fare.
The minimum fine for traveling without a valid train ticket is now ₹250 and the fare from the train’s starting point to where you’re caught.
Pulling the emergency chain without a genuine reason can lead to a fine of a ₹1,000 or imprisonment.
Smoking inside train coaches, toilets, or corridors is prohibited under railway regulations.
Male passengers entering ladies-only coaches without authorisation may face a ₹500 fine or be removed from the compartment.
Misbehaving with railway staff can lead to ₹1,000 fine or even imprisonment for up to 3 months.
Littering inside trains, on railway tracks or at platforms is punishable under railway cleanliness regulations.
Trespassing or walking on railway tracks in unauthorised areas is also treated as a punishable offence. It can lead to a ₹1,000 fine or jail time of up to 6 months.
