Railways Act, 1989
15. Payment of amount for damage or loss.
(1) No suit shall lie against a railway administration to recover
any amount for any damage or loss caused in the exercise of the powers
conferred by any of the foregoing provisions of this Chapter.
(2) A railway administration shall pay or tender payment for any
damage or loss caused in the exercise of the powers conferred by any of the
foregoing provisions of this Chapter, and in case of a dispute as to the
sufficiency of any amount so paid or tendered or as to the persons entitled to
receive the amount, it shall immediately refer the dispute for the decision of
the District Judge of the district and his decision thereon shall be final:
Provided that where the railway administration fails to
make a reference within sixty days from the date of commencement of the dispute,
the District Judge may, on an application made to him by the person concerned,
direct the railway administration to refer the dispute for his decision.
(3) The reference under sub-section (2) shall be treated as an
appeal under section 96 of the (Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) and
shall be disposed of accordingly.
(4) Where any amount has been paid as required by sub-section
(2), the railway administration shall notwithstanding anything in any other law
for the time being in force, be discharged from all liabilities to any person
whatsoever in respect of any amount so paid.