5 railway offences that can land you in the soup

Many of us tend to take too much leverage when it comes to civic mannerisms when travelling in Indian trains. It is a common sight to see passengers litter on the railway tracks and platforms, while a few others resort to spitting uninhibitedly. While many such forbidden actions get forgiven with or without a warning, there are a few prohibited acts that indeed attract the penalty of the railway officials. This is your guide on what not to do when you travel with the Indian Railways.

As per a new rule, anyone who is caught misbehaving on the railway premises or on trains will be banned from travelling on a train in India for six months. The railways will save the record of such offenders and prohibit them from booking tickets for the stipulated term.

Anyone who is caught trespassing on the railway property such as entering a platform with a valid ticket is liable to pay a fine of INR 1000 or face imprisonment.

Many amateur train travellers get strong impulses to pull the railway compartment chain if they do not have a guardian or a parent to warn them of its consequences. However, anyone who pulls the chain in the absence of a due cause, like a fire breakout or medical issue, can land in the soup. Section 141 of the Indian Railways Act states that pulling the chain for no valid reason is liable to imprisonment for up to one year, or a fine of up to INR 1000, or both.

Travelling without a ticket and a valid photo identity proof on a train in India deserves a penalty. Passengers need to pay a minimum fine of INR 250, and the fare of the ticket for the distance you have travelled till the point you are caught. Anyone travelling without enough money to pay the fine, or those who refuse to pay are handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) while being booked under Section 137 of the Railways Act. The RPF takes such passengers to a magistrate, who may slap an additional penalty of INR 1000 on the offender. If that is also not paid by the offender, he or she may get imprisoned for six months.

It is a no-brainer that travelling on a train with a half ticket, or in a compartment of a higher class than the ticket you bought and even travelling with a child without a valid ticket, can incur a penalty. In addition, serious offences like travelling under the influence of liquor or consuming liquor on a train is liable to a fine and even jail for six months. Also, smoking on-board is a punishable offence.