Railways Act, 1989
99. Responsibility of a railway administration after
termination of transit.
(1) A railway administration shall be responsible as a bailee
under sections 151, 152 and 161 of the Indian Contract- Act, 1872 (9 of 1872),
for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of any
consignment up to a period of seven day after the termination of transit :
Provided that where the consignment is at owner's risk
rate the railway administration shall not be responsible as a bailee for such
loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery except on proof of
negligence or misconduct on the part of the railway administration or of any of
its servants.
(2) The railway administration shall not be, responsible in any
case for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of any
consignment arising after the expiry of a period of seven days after the
termination of transit.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing
provisions of this section, a railway administration shall not be responsible
for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of perishable
goods, animals, explosives and such dangerous or other goods as may be
prescribed, after the termination of transit.
(4) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall
affect the liability of any person to pay any demurrage or wharfage, as the
case may be, for so long as the consignment is not unloaded from the railway
wagons or removed from the railway premises.