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Chief Justice Surya Kant, during the hearing, said that bringing a smile to the face of a poor person is the court’s true reward.
Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has finally delivered justice to a widow from Bihar who had been struggling for 23 years to receive compensation. Her fight for compensation after her husband's death in a train accident was long and arduous, but after the Supreme Court's intervention, the railways deposited Rs 8.92 lakh into her bank account. Chief Justice Surya Kant, during the hearing, said that bringing a smile to the face of a poor person is the court's true reward.
The case dates back to 2002, when a passenger, Vijay Singh, died after falling from a train due to overcrowding at Bakhtiyarpur station. His wife, Sanyogita Devi, filed a claim for compensation, but the Railway Claims Tribunal and the Patna High Court rejected her claim, stating that the deceased was mentally unstable.
She then approached the Supreme Court, which overturned the lower courts' decisions, calling them "contrary to facts and entirely based on speculation."
End of a long legal battle
In 2023, the court ordered the railways to pay the woman Rs 4 lakh with six percent interest within two months. However, the woman had changed her address, and her local lawyer had also passed away, making it difficult for the railways to contact her.
Several letters were sent, but no response was received. Finally, the railways requested the Supreme Court's intervention, stating that they were facing significant difficulties at the local level in complying with the order.
Supreme Court's active intervention
Taking the matter seriously, the Supreme Court directed the Eastern Railway to issue public notices in newspapers. The SSP of Nalanda and the SHO of Bakhtiyarpur police station were also tasked with locating the woman.
The court stated that the woman should be informed of her rights and that it should be ensured that the compensation amount reaches her safely. The court also emphasized that it is the judiciary's responsibility to provide relief to the poor. Railways show promptness
After extensive searching, the railways and local administration successfully located Sanyogita Devi in her new village. Officials obtained her Aadhaar card, PAN card, and Gram Panchayat certificate. Since her bank details were unavailable, she sent them via speed post. Subsequently, on November 13, 2025, Rs. 8,92,953 was deposited into her account. The Supreme Court commended the railways and lawyer Fauzia Shakeel, who assisted the woman free of charge.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the court's objective is not merely to dispose of cases, but to provide relief to those in need. He said that bringing a smile to the face of a poor woman is our true reward. The court acknowledged that this case serves as an example of how the judiciary, police, and administration can work together to deliver justice to a victim, no matter how old the case may be.
