Jan Vishwas Act: Revision of Railway Fines
With the implementation of the Jan Vishwas Act—passed by Parliament to make rail travel safer and more organized—significant changes have been introduced to Indian Railways’ rules and penalties. Indian Railways has implemented comprehensive amendments to the Railways Act, 1989, under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Act to ensure rail travel is safer, more orderly, and disciplined. The primary objective of this historic move is to decriminalize minor offenses and impose stricter administrative fines on those who violate railway regulations.
Fine for Entering Women’s Coaches Raised to ₹2,500
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the Delhi Division of Northern Railway has initiated action based on the revised penalty rates. A sharp surge in fine collections has been recorded since the new rates came into effect. To ensure women’s safety, Railways has significantly tightened the rules regarding women’s coaches following this amendment. Previously, the fine for the unauthorized entry of men into coaches reserved for women was up to ₹500; this has now been increased to ₹2,500. Following the implementation of this rule, the RPF apprehended 302 male passengers traveling in women’s coaches in July and collected fines totaling approximately ₹7.5 lakh—a stark contrast to May, when collections under the old rates stood at just ₹33,000.
Revised Fines for Smoking, Vending, and Unauthorized Entry
The fine amounts for various other offenses—both minor and major—have also been revised under the Jan Vishwas Act. The fine for smoking bidis or cigarettes on trains or platforms has been raised from ₹100 to ₹2,000. Meanwhile, the RPF collected fines amounting to ₹5.9 lakh in July alone for unauthorized entry onto railway stations or tracks. Hefty civil penalties are now being imposed for selling goods without a license or begging on trains; fine collections in this category have reached ₹5.3 lakh. Additionally, ₹7.2 lakh was collected in July for disregarding instructions from railway staff—such as drivers, guards, or TTEs.
Here are the new fine rates:
Traveling without a valid ticket or pass now attracts a minimum fine of ₹500 (previously ₹250).
Smoking bidis or cigarettes at railway stations or inside coaches now incurs a heavy penalty of ₹2,000.
Male passengers traveling in ladies’ coaches will be fined ₹2,500.
A fine of ₹2,000 is fixed for a first-time offense of selling goods or begging on trains or at stations without permission.
Forcibly occupying another passenger’s confirmed berth will attract a civil penalty of up to ₹1,000.
Creating a disturbance while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants can lead to expulsion from the train, 24 hours in jail, or a fine of ₹1,000.
Carrying dangerous or explosive materials without permission will result in a fine of up to ₹10,000.
Fines can no longer be reduced
Commenting on the matter, Senior RPF Divisional Security Commissioner Ashutosh Pandey stated that the implementation of the Jan Vishwas Act has brought significant changes to legal procedures and administrative processes. He explained that under this amendment, certain offenses have been reclassified from criminal offenses to civil penalties, allowing issues to be resolved administratively on the spot rather than going to court. Previously, if a passenger cited financial hardship, magistrates or officials could reduce the fine. However, fixed penalties ranging from ₹500 to ₹2,500 have now been established, with no provision for waivers or concessions. Three Key Features of the Jan Vishwas Act
For minor infractions, the matter is now resolved on the spot by the Railway Police or the TTE through the collection of a penalty; a criminal case will be registered in court only if the passenger flatly refuses to pay the prescribed administrative penalty.
The Act clearly delineates the legal distinction between penalties collected on the spot by administrative officials and fines imposed by a competent court.
The Act includes a special provision to account for inflation and ensure the continued effectiveness of the regulations; under this provision, all prescribed penalty amounts for rule violations will automatically increase by 10 percent every three years.
