SC steps in to trace train accident victim’s widow, orders Railways to deliver compensation after 23 years

The Supreme Court went beyond its usual judicial role to ensure justice reaches a victim of tragedy. More than two decades after Vijay Singh’s death in a railway accident, the apex court directed the Railways and local authorities in 2023 to compensate his widow, Saynokta Devi, whose struggle for relief has spanned over twenty years.

However, after learning that Devi could not be contacted due to an incorrect address and the death of her lawyer, the Supreme Court ordered the Bakhtiyarpur SHO to assist Railway officials in locating her and depositing the compensation directly into her bank account. The local Gram Panchayat Sarpanch has been tasked with verifying her identity, while the Bihar Legal Services Authority and SSP Nalanda have been asked to submit compliance reports within