The Railways Act 1989 – Chapters & Sections with MCQ

The Railways Act 1989 – Chapters & Sections : The Railways Act, 1989, comprises 16 Chapters and 200 Sections, along with a schedule. The Act, enacted on June 3, 1989, details various aspects of railway administration in India, including definitions, policies, and operations.

The Railways Act, 1989 (Act No. 24 of 1989) is a comprehensive piece of legislation enacted by the Parliament on June 3, 1989, to consolidate and amend the laws governing railways in India. This landmark Act defines the legal framework for railway administration, the construction and maintenance of works, and the responsibilities of the railways as a carrier of both passengers and goods. It also establishes vital safety protocols through the Commissioners of Railway Safety and provides a structured system for penalties and offences to ensure public safety and efficient operations

CHAPTER I – PRELIMINARY

1. Short title and commencement. 
2. Definitions.

CHAPTER II – RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS

3. Zonal Railways.
4. Appointment of General Manager.

CHAPTER IIA – RAIL LAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

4A. Establishment of Railway Land Development Authority.
4B. Composition of Authority.
4C. Terms and conditions of appointment of Vice-Chairman and other Members.
4D. Functions of Authority.
4E. Powers of Authority to enter into agreements and execute contracts.
4F. Procedure of transaction of business of Authority.
4G. Appointment of officers and other employees of Authority.
4H. Salaries, allowances, etc., to be defrayed out of Consolidated Fund of India.
4-I. Power of Authority to make regulations.

CHAPTER III – COMMISSIONERS OF RAILWAY SAFETY

5. Appointment of Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety and Commissioners of Railway Safety.
6. Duties of Commissioner.
7. Powers of Commissioner.
8. Commissioner to be public servant.
9. Facilities to be afforded to Commissioners.
10. Annual report of Commissioners.

CHAPTER IV – CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF WORKS

11. Power of railway administrations to execute all necessary works.
12. Power to alter the position of pipe, electric supply line drain or sewer, etc.
13. Protection for Government property.
14. Temporary entry upon land to remove obstruction, to repair or to prevent accident.
15. Payment of amount for damage or loss.
16. Accommodation works.
17. Power of owner, occupier, State Government or local authority to cause additional accommodation
works to be made.
18. Fences, gates and bars.
19. Overbridges and underbridges.
20. Power of Central Government to give directions for safety.

CHAPTER IVA – LAND ACQUISITION FOR A SPECIAL RAILWAY PROJECT

20A. Power to acquire land, etc.
20B. Power to enter for survey, etc.
20C. Evaluation of damages during survey, measurement, etc.
20D. Hearing of objections, etc.
20E. Declaration of acquisition.
20F. Determination of amount payable as compensation.
20G. Criterion for determination of market-value of land.
20H. Deposit and payment of amount.
20-I. Power to take possession.
20J. Right to enter into land where land has vested in Central Government.
20K. Competent authority to have certain powers of civil court.
20L. Utilisation of land for the purpose it is acquired.
20M. Sharing with landowners the difference in price of a land when transferred for a higher
consideration.
20N. Land Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 not to apply.
20-O. Application of the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 to persons
affected due to land acquisition.
20P. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER V – OPENING OF RAILWAYS

21. Sanction of the Central Government to the opening of railway.
22. Formalities to be complied with before giving sanction to the opening of a railway.
23. Sections 21 and 22 to apply to the opening of certain works.
24. Temporary suspension of traffic.
25. Power to close railway opened for the public carriage of passengers.
26. Re-opening of closed railway.
27. Use of rolling stock.
28. Delegation of powers.
29. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER VI – FIXATION OF RATES

30. Power to fix rates.
31. Power to classify commodities or alter rates.
32. Power of railway administration to charge certain rates.

CHAPTER VII – RAILWAY RATES TRIBUNAL

33. Constitution of the Railway Rates Tribunal.
34. Staff of the Tribunal.
35. Sittings of the Tribunal.
36. Complaints against a railway administration.
37. Matters not within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.
38. Powers of the Tribunal.
39. Reference to the Tribunal.
40. Assistance by the Central Government.
41. Burden of proof, etc.
42. Decision, etc., of the Tribunal.
43. Bar of jurisdiction of courts.
44. Reliefs which the Tribunal may grant.
45. Revision of decisions given by the Tribunal.
46. Execution of decisions or orders of the Tribunal.
47. Report to the Central Government.
48. Power of the Tribunal to make regulations.

CHAPTER VIII – CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS

49. Exhibition of certain timings and tables of fares at stations.
50. Supply of tickets on payment of fare.
51. Provision for case in which ticket is issued for class or train not having accommodation for
additional passengers.
52. Cancellation of ticket and refund.
53. Prohibition against transfer of certain tickets.
54. Exhibition and surrender of passes and tickets.
55. Prohibition against travelling without pass or ticket.
56. Power to refuse to carry persons suffering from infectious or contagious diseases.
57. Maximum number of passengers for each compartment.
58. Earmarking of compartment, etc., for ladies.
59. Communications between passengers and railway servant in charge of train.
60. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER IX – CARRIAGE OF GOODS

61. Maintenance of rate-books, etc., for carriage of goods.
62. Conditions for receiving, etc., of goods.
63. Provisions of risk rates.
64. Forwarding note.
65. Railway receipt.
66. Power to require statement relating to the description of goods.
67. Carriage of dangerous or offensive goods.
68. Carriage of animals suffering from infectious or contagious diseases.
69. Deviation of route.
70. Prohibition of undue preference.
71. Power to give direction in regard to carriage of certain goods.
72. Maximum carrying capacity for wagons and trucks.
73. Punitive charge for overloading a wagon.
74. Passing of property in the goods covered by railway receipt.
75. Section 74 not to affect right of stoppage in transit or claims for freight.
76. Surrender of railway receipt.
77. Power of railway administration to deliver goods or sale proceeds thereof in certain cases.
78. Power to measure, weigh, etc.
79. Weighment of consignment on request of the consignee or endorsee.
80. Liability of railway administration for wrong delivery.
81. Open delivery of consigrments.
82. Partial delivery of consignments.
83. Lien for freight or any other sum due.
84. Unclaimed consignment.
85. Disposal of perishable consignments in certain circumstances.
86. Sales under sections 83 to 85 not to affect the right to suit.
87. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER X – SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS TO GOODS BOOKED TO NOTIFIED STATIONS

88. Definitions.
89. Power to declare notified stations.
90. Disposal of unremoved goods at notified stations.
91. Price to be paid to person entitled after deducting dues.
92. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER XI – RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS AS CARRIERS

93. General responsibility of a railway administration as carrier of goods.
94. Goods to be loaded or delivered at a siding not belonging to a railway administration
95. Delay or detention in transit.
96. Traffic passing over railways in India and railways in foreign countries.
97. Goods carried at owner’s risk rate.
98. Goods in defective condition or defectively packed.
99. Responsibility of a railway administration after termination of transit.
100. Responsibility as carrier of luggage.
101. Responsibility as a carrier of animals.
102. Exoneration from liability in certain cases.
103. Extent of monetary liability in respect of any consignment.
104. Extent of liability in respect of goods carried in open wagon.
105. Right of railway administration to check contents of certain consignment or luggage.
106. Notice of claim for compensation and refund of overcharge.
107. Applications for compensation for loss, etc., of goods.
108. Person entitled to claim compensation.
109. Railway administration against which application for compensation for personal injury is to
be filed.
110. Burden of proof.
111. Extent of liability of railway administration in respect of accidents at sea.
112. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER XII – ACCIDENTS

113. Notice of railway accident.
114. Inquiry by Commissioner.
115. Inquiry by railway administration.
116. Powers of Commissioner in relation to inquiries.
117. Statement made before Commissioner.
118. Procedure, etc.
119. No inquiry, investigation, etc., to be made if the Commission of Inquiry is appointed.
120. Inquiry into accident not covered by section 113.
121. Returns.
122. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER XIII LIABILITY OF RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION FOR DEATH AND INJURY TO PASSENGERS DUE TO ACCIDENTS

123. Definitions.
124. Extent of liability.
124A. Compensation on account of untoward incidents.
125. Application for compensation.
126. Interim relief by railway administration.
127. Determination of compensation in respect of any injury or loss of goods.
128. Saving as to certain rights.
129. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER XIV – REGULATION OF HOURS OF WORK AND PERIOD OF REST

130. Definitions.
131. Chapter not to apply to certain railway servants.
132. Limitation of hours of work.
133. Grant of periodical rest.
134. Railway servant to remain on duty.
135. Supervisors of railway labour.
136. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Chapter.

CHAPTER XV – PENALTIES AND OFFENCES

137. Fraudulently travelling or attempting to travel without proper pass or ticket.
138. Levy of excess charge and fare for travelling without proper pass or ticket or beyond authorised
distance.
139. Power to remove persons.
140. Security for good behaviour in certain cases.
141. Needlessly interfering with means of communication in a train.
142. Penalty for transfer of tickets.
143. Penalty for unauthorised carrying on of business of procuring and supplying of railway tickets.
144. Prohibition on hawking, etc., and begging.
145. Drunkenness or nuisance.
146. Obstructing railway servant in his duties.
147. Trespass and refusal to desist from trespass.
148. Penalty for making a false statement in an application for compensation.
149. Making a false claim for compensation.
150. Maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train.
151. Damage to or destruction of certain railway properties.
152. Maliciously hurting or attempting to hurt persons travelling by railway.
153. Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by wilful act or omission.
154. Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by rash or negligent act or omission.
155. Entering into a compartment reserved or resisting entry into a compartment not reserved.
156. Travelling on roof, step or engine of a train.
157. Altering or defacing pass or ticket.
158. Penalty for contravention of any of the provisions of Chapter XIV.
159. Disobedience of drivers or conductors of vehicles to directions of railway servant, etc.
160. Opening or breaking a level crossing gate.
161. Negligently crossing unmanned level crossing.
162. Entering carriage or other place reserved for females.
163. Giving false account of goods.
164. Unlawfully bringing dangerous goods on a railway.
165. Unlawfully bringing offensive goods on a railway.
166. Defacing public notices.
167. Smoking.
168. Provision with respect to commission of offence by the children of acts endangering safety of
person travelling on railway.
169. Levy of penalty on non-Government railway.
170. Recovery of penalty.
171. Section 169 or 170 not to preclude Central Government from taking any other action.
172. Penalty for intoxication.
173. Abandoning train, etc., without authority.
174. Obstructing running of train, etc.
175. Endangering the safety of persons.
176. Obstructing level crossing.
177. False returns.
178. Making a false report by a railway servant.
179. Arrest for offences under certain sections.
180. Arrest of persons likely to abscond, etc.
180A. Inquiry by officer authorised to ascertain commission of offence.
180B. Powers of officer authorised to inquire.
180C. Disposal of persons arrested.
180D. Inquiry how to be made against arrested person.
180E. Search, seizure and arrest how to be made.
180F. Cognizance by Court on a complaint made by officer authorised.
180G. Punishment for certain offences in relation to inquiry.
181. Magistrate having jurisdiction under the Act.
182. Place of trial.

CHAPTER XVI – MISCELLANEOUS

183. Power to provide other transport services.
184. Taxation on railways by local authorities.
185. Taxation on railways for advertisement.
186. Protection of action taken in good faith.
187. Restriction on execution against railway property.
188. Railway servants to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX and section 409 of the
Indian Penal Code.
189. Railway servants not to engage in trade.
190. Procedure for delivery to railway administration of property detained by a railway servant.
191. Proof of entries in records and documents.
192. Service of notice, etc., on railway administration.
193. Service of notice, etc., by railway administration.
194. Presumption where notice is served by post.
195. Representation of railway administration.
196. Power to exempt railway from Act.
197. Matters supplemental to the definitions of “railway” and “railway servant”.
198. General power to make rules.
199. Rules to be laid before Parliament.
200. Repeal and saving.

MCQ Questions on Improtant Railway Section.

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