There was uproar across social media because it has seen poor, elderly passengers getting fined and ticket collectors suspended for even 10 minutes (video). People have criticised the ticket collector’s handling and said Indian Railways should apologise, give us a quick apology, a ticket for ticket and go. One of the older passengers got a ticket in the middle of the trip that was illegal and a total refund. People might not care for the rest because their life got disrupted, and the poor passengers did not get the ticket that they needed and so they were just fine (video).
The incident was in the Mughalsarai division of East Central Railway, Chandauli district. A man, who was not traveling with a valid ticket in those days, came face to face with Ticket Collector Vinay Singh. But instead of issuing a fine it seems the collector took all the money the man had, leaving him in trouble all the way through and feeling helpless so this was something he had never witnessed in a long time.
Passengers took pictures of the old man pleading with the collector when he counted the cash. The video spread fast online and the text description of such a “daylight robbery” occurred in an immediate fashion.
This is a case of the tension between excessive enforcement and simple human care. Railway traffic law enforcement insists on ticketless travel fines but enforcement of ticketless travel in the passenger train by passengers. Taking all of an elderly man’s money was excessive, inhumane, and indicative of the misuse of power.
The viral outrage is a larger call for accountability in society. People expect to see government officials follow rules fairly, not to humiliate. Public pressure can force institutions to take action fairly quickly, the ticket collector is suspended, the case illustrates.
Why It Matters
- Humanity in enforcement: Rules are a tool to do so with compassion around how people would receive punishment on the ground and how they were treated.
- Public Trust: These kinds of things damage Indian Railways and put trust on staff.
- Social Media Accountability: This viral video’s popularity forced authorities into action proof of digital platforms bringing accountability from social media channels.
- Accountability: The suspension of the ticket collector sends a message that misuse of power will not be tolerated in this organization.
This viral video of an elderly ticket collector taking money from an elderly passenger has spurred protests all over Indian television. While rules must be implemented, the lesson is that without human rights enforcement and moral policing, there will only be anger for those people and trust will not be respected. For citizens this story should be a warning and a reassurance: misuse of police power will come and go, people just better have to keep the dignity of their own lives in place of enforcement.
