Railway Rules- If you think while travelling in a train that it is just a blanket or a pillow, what difference will it make if I take it home?, then be careful. Indian Railways does not take this ‘petty theft’ lightly at all. Taking away a blanket, a pillow or a sheet can land you straight in jail. This is not only unethical but is also a serious offence legally.
Passengers travelling in AC coaches of the train are given linen items like bed sheets, pillows and blankets by the railways so that they can travel comfortably. But all these items are for use only during the journey. It is mandatory to return these items as soon as the journey is over. Taking them home is considered ‘theft of railway property’.
What is the law? How much punishment can one get?
Under Section 3 of the Indian Railway Act 1966, there is a provision for strict action on theft or damage to railway property. If found guilty for the first time, the punishment can be up to one year in jail or a fine of up to ₹ 1,000 or both. At the same time, in case of repeated offenses or in serious cases, a jail term of up to five years and a heavy fine can be imposed.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials periodically check passengers in trains. If someone is found to have a bedsheet, pillow or blanket without reason and does not return it, legal action can be taken against him.
You may wonder what difference a single bedsheet makes, but when thousands of passengers start doing this, it directly affects the pockets of the railways. In the Western Railway zone alone, lakhs of linen items were stolen during 2017-18, causing a loss of crores of rupees to the railways.
At the end of the journey, return all the items to the attendant. If any item is taken with you by mistake, return it. This will not only make you a good citizen, but will also save yourself from legal troubles.