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The Railways Act, 1989
Act ID: 1989
The Railways Act, 1989
"An Act to consolidate, amend and rationalise the law relating to railways."
Table of Contents
233 Sections
Ch. IP
reliminary
S.1
Short title and commencement
S.2
Definitions
Ch. IIR
ailway administrations
S.3
Zonal Railways
S.4
Appointment of General Manager
Ch. IIA
Rail Land Development Authority
S.4A
Establishment of Railway Land Development Authority
S.4B
Composition of Authority
S.4C
Terms and conditions of appointment of Vice-Chairman and other Members
S.4D
Functions of Authority
S.4E
Powers of Authority to enter into agreements and execute contracts
S.4F
Procedure of transaction of business of Authority
S.4G
Appointment of officers and other employees of Authority
S.4H
Salaries, allowances, etc., to be defrayed out of Consolidated Fund of India
S.4I
Power of Authority to make regulations
Ch. IIICo
mmissioners of railway safety
S.5
Appointment of Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety and Commissioners of Railway Safety
S.6
Duties of Commissioner
S.7
Powers of Commissioner
S.8
Commissioner to be public servant
S.9
Facilities to be afforded to Commissioners
S.10
Annual report of Commissioners
Ch. IVCo
nstruction and maintenance of works
S.11
Power of railway administrations to execute all necessary works
S.12
Power to alter the position of pipe, electric supply line, drain or sewer, etc
S.13
Protection for Government property
S.14
Temporary entry, upon land to remove obstruction, to repair or to prevent accident
S.15
Payment of amount for damage or loss
S.16
Accommodation works
S.17
Power of owner, occupier, State Government or local authority to cause additional accommodation works to be made
S.18
Fences, gates and bars
S.19
Overbridges and underbridges
S.20
Power of Central Government to give directions for safety
Ch. IVA
Land acquisition for a special railway project
S.20A
Power to acquire land, etc
S.20B
Power to enter for survey, etc
S.20C
Evaluation of damages during survey, measurement, etc
S.20D
Hearing of objections, etc
S.20E
Declaration of acquisition
S.20F
Determination of amount payable as compensation
S.20G
Criterion for determination of market-value of land
S.20H
Deposit and payment of amount
S.20I
Power to take possession
S.20J
Right to enter into land where land has vested in Central Government
S.20K
Competent authority to have certain powers of civil court
S.20L
Utilisation of land for the purpose it is acquired
S.20M
Sharing with landowners the difference in price of a land when transferred for a higher consideration
S.20N
Land Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 not to apply
S.20O
Application of the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 to persons affected due to land acquisition
S.20P
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. VO
pening of railways
S.21
Sanction of the Central Government to the opening of railway
S.22
Formalities to be complied with before giving sanction to the opening of a railway
S.23
Sections 21 and 22 to apply to the opening of certain works
S.24
Temporary suspension of traffic
S.25
Power to close railway opened for the public carriage of passengers
S.26
Re-opening of closed railway
S.27
Use of rolling stock
S.28
Delegation of powers
S.29
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. VIF
ixation of rates
S.30
Power to fix rates
S.31
Power to classify commodities or alter rates
S.32
Power of railway administration to charge certain rates
Ch. VIIR
ailway rates tribunal
S.33
Constitution of the Railway Rates Tribunal
S.34
Staff of the Tribunal
S.35
Sittings of the Tribunal
S.36
Complaints against a railway administration
S.37
Matters not within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal
S.38
Powers of the Tribunal
S.39
Reference to the Tribunal
S.40
Assistance by the Central Government
S.41
Burden of proof, etc
S.42
Decision, etc., of the Tribunal
S.43
Bar of jurisdiction of courts
S.44
Reliefs which the Tribunal may grant
S.45
Revision of decisions given by the Tribunal
S.46
Execution of decisions or orders of the Tribunal
S.47
Report to the Central Government
S.48
Power of the Tribunal to make regulations
Ch. VIIICa
rriage of passengers
S.49
Exhibition of certain timings and tables of fares at stations
S.50
Supply of tickets on payment of fare
S.51
Provision for case in which ticket is issued for class or train not having accommodation for additional passengers
S.52
Cancellation of ticket and refund
S.53
Prohibition against transfer of certain tickets
S.54
Exhibition and surrender of passes and tickets
S.55
Prohibition against travelling without pass or ticket
S.56
Power to refuse to carry persons suffering from infectious or contagious diseases
S.57
Maximum number of passengers for each compartment
S.58
Earmarking of compartment, etc., for ladies
S.59
Communications between passengers and railway servant in charge of train
S.60
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. IXCa
rriage of goods
S.61
Maintenance of rate-books, etc., for carriage of goods
S.62
Conditions for receiving, etc., of goods
S.63
Provision of risk rates
S.64
Forwarding note
S.65
Railway receipt
S.66
Power to require statement relating to the description of goods
S.67
Carriage of dangerous or offensive goods
S.68
Carriage of animals suffering from infectious or contagious diseases
S.69
Deviation of route
S.70
Prohibition of undue preference
S.71
Power to give direction in regard to carriage of certain goods
S.72
Maximum carrying capacity for wagons and trucks
S.73
Punitive charge for overloading a wagon
S.74
Passing of property in the goods covered by railway receipt
S.75
Section 74 not to affect right of stoppage in transit or claims for freight
S.76
Surrender of railway receipt
S.77
Power of railway administration to deliver goods or sale proceeds thereof in certain cases
S.78
Power to measure, weigh, etc
S.79
Weighment of consignment on request of the consignee or endorsee
S.80
Liability of railway administration for wrong delivery
S.81
Open delivery of consignments
S.82
Partial delivery of consignments
S.83
Lien for freight or any other sum due
S.84
Unclaimed consignment
S.85
Disposal of perishable consignments in certain circumstances
S.86
Sales under sections 83 to 85 not to affect the right to suit
S.87
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. XS
pecial provisions as to goods booked to notified stations
S.88
Definitions
S.89
Power to declare notified stations
S.90
Disposal of unremoved goods at notified stations
S.91
Price to be paid to person entitled after deducting dues
S.92
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. XIR
esponsibilities of railway administrations as carriers
S.93
General responsibility of a railway administration as carrier of goods
S.94
Goods to be loaded or delivered at a siding not belonging to a railway administration
S.95
Delay or retention in transit
S.96
Traffic passing over railways in India and railways in foreign countries
S.97
Goods carried at owner’s risk rate
S.98
Goods in defective condition or defectively packed
S.99
Responsibility of a railway administration after termination of transit
S.100
Responsibility as carrier of luggage
S.101
Responsibility as a carrier of animals
S.102
Exoneration from liability in certain cases
S.103
Extent of monetary liability in respect of any consignment
S.104
Extent of liability in respect of goods carried in open wagon
S.105
Right of railway administration to check contents of certain consignment or luggage
S.106
Notice of claim for compensation and refund of overcharge
S.107
Applications for compensation for loss, etc., of goods
S.108
Person entitled to claim compensation
S.109
Railway administration against which application for compensation for personal injury is to be filed
S.110
Burden of proof
S.111
Extent of liability of railway administration in respect of accidents at sea
S.112
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. XIIA
ccidents
S.113
Notice of railway accident
S.114
Inquiry by Commissioner
S.115
Inquiry by railway administration
S.116
Powers of Commissioner in relation to inquiries
S.117
Statement made before Commissioner
S.118
Procedure, etc
S.119
No inquiry, investigation, etc., to be made if the Commission of Inquiry is appointed
S.120
Inquiry into accident not covered by section 113
S.121
Returns
S.122
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. XIIILia
bility of railway administration for death and injury to passengers due to accidents
S.123
Definitions
S.124
Extent of liability
S.124A
Compensation on account of untoward incidents
S.125
Application for compensation
S.126
Interim relief by railway administration
S.127
Determination of compensation in respect of any injury or loss of goods
S.128
Saving as to certain rights
S.129
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. XIVR
egulation of hours of work and period of rest
S.130
Definitions
S.131
Chapter not to apply to certain railway servants
S.132
Limitation of hours of work
S.133
Grant of periodical rest
S.134
Railway servant to remain on duty
S.135
Supervisors of railway labour
S.136
Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter
Ch. XVP
enalties and offences
S.137
Fraudulently travelling or attempting to travel without proper pass or ticket
S.138
Levy of excess charge and fare for travelling without proper pass or ticket or beyond authorised distance
S.139
Power to remove persons
S.140
Security for good behaviour in certain cases
S.141
Needlessly interfering with means of communication in a train
S.142
Penalty for transfer of tickets
S.143
Penalty for unauthorised carrying on of business of procuring and supplying of railway tickets
S.144
Prohibition on hawking, etc., and begging
S.145
Drunkenness or nuisance
S.146
Obstructing railway servant in his duties
S.147
Trespass and refusal to desist from trespass
S.148
Penalty for making a false statement in an application for compensation
S.149
Making a false claim for compensation
S.150
Maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train
S.151
Damage to or destruction of certain railway properties
S.152
Maliciously hurting or attempting to hurt persons travelling by railway
S.153
Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by wilful act or omission
S.154
Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by rash or negligent act or omission
S.155
Entering into a compartment reserved or resisting entry into a compartment not reserved
S.156
Travelling on roof, step or engine of a train
S.157
Altering or defacing pass or ticket
S.158
Penalty for contravention of any of the provisions of Chapter XIV
S.159
Disobedience of drivers or conductors of vehicles to directions of railway servant, etc
S.160
Opening or breaking a level crossing gate
S.161
Negligently crossing unmanned level crossing
S.162
Entering carriage or other place reserved for females
S.163
Giving false account of goods
S.164
Unlawfully bringing dangerous goods on a railway
S.165
Unlawfully bringing offensive goods on a railway
S.166
Defacing public notices
S.167
Smoking
S.168
Provision with respect to commission of offence by the children of acts endangering safety of person travelling on railway
S.169
Levy of penalty on non-Government railway
S.170
Recovery of penalty
S.171
Section 169 or 170 not to preclude Central Government from taking any other action
S.172
Penalty for intoxication
S.173
Abandoning train, etc., without authority
S.174
Obstructing running of train, etc
S.175
Endangering the safety of persons
S.176
Obstructing level crossing
S.177
False returns
S.178
Making a false report by a railway servant
S.179
Arrest for offences under certain sections
S.180
Arrest of persons likely to abscond, etc
S.180A
Inquiry by officer authorised to ascertain commission of offence
S.180B
Powers of officer authorised to inquire
S.180C
Disposal of persons arrested
S.180D
Inquiry how to be made against arrested person
S.180E
Search, seizure and arrest how to be made
S.180F
Cognizance by Court on a complaint made by officer authorised
S.180G
Punishment for certain offences in relation to inquiry
S.181
Magistrate having jurisdiction under the Act
S.182
Place of trial
Ch. XVIMis
cellaneous
S.183
Power to provide other transport services
S.184
Taxation on railways by local authorities
S.185
Taxation on railways for advertisement
S.186
Protection of action taken in good faith
S.187
Restriction on exceution against railway property
S.188
Railway servants to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX and section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)
S.189
Railway servants not to engage in trade
S.190
Procedure for delivery to railway administration of property detained by a railway servant
S.191
Proof of entries in records and documents
S.192
Service of notice, etc., on railway administration
S.193
Service of notice, etc., by railway administration
S.194
Presumption where notice is served by post
S.195
Representation of railway administration
S.196
Power to exempt railway from Act
S.197
Matters supplemental to the definitions of “railway” and “railway servant”
S.198
General power to make rules
S.199
Rules to be laid before Parliament
S.200
Repeal and saving