Consumer Protection Council, Rourkela      ...  Complainant
Vrs.
Northen Railway & Ors.                             ...  Opposite Parties

                                             ORDER

          Mr.S.Chatterjee, Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Coaching, Delhi and A.P.Rao, Coaching Depot Officer, Puri appeared before us in compliance with the direction contained in our order dated 29th August,1991.  Both these officers have explained to us the steps that are being taken to improve the level of passenger comfort on the trains operating on section Nizamuddin - Puri via Bilaspur and also the action that is being already taken by them to improve the standard of cleanliness and sanitation in the compartments and the toilets etc. in the compartments.  We have impressed on these officers the imperative necessity of giving high priority attention to passenger comfort, especially to the maintenance of proper standards of cleanliness and sanitation in the compartments and in the toilets.

          We are also assured by Mr. Chatterjee that effective steps are being taken to fill up the water tanks of the compartments at Nizamuddin Railway Station as well as at certain intermediate stations where the train stops for more than 15 minutes. We consider that in the light of the statements made by these two responsible officers and the assurance that has been given, no directions from the Commission are called for in this matter at this juncture.  If it, in any future point of time, the petitioner-Consumer Protection Council, Rourkela- finds that the state of affairs in the trains running in the sector in question are not satisfactory in any respect, he will then be at liberty to approach this Commission afresh seeking proper direction and orders.

          We consider that it is only right and proper that the Consumer Protection Council, Rourkela, which has been taking keen and active interest in voicing and getting remedied the grievances of consumers and in taking steps to safeguard the rights of consumers  should be given representation on the Divisional Rail Users' Consultative Committee of Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway. The General Manager of the South Eastern Railway will take early action to see that a representative of the said Council  is also nominated to the said Committee.

          The original petition is disposed of with the above observations.