Farmer Becomes Owner of Train in Gujarat: A Unique Legal Victory

NEWS CHARIOT : In a surprising and rare turn of events, a farmer from Punjab has become the owner of a train in India. While many people in Gujarat own valuable cars, helicopters, planes, and ships, owning a train is unheard of. However, due to an extraordinary legal decision, a farmer now holds the title of the owner of the prestigious Swarn Shatabdi Express.

The incident began in 2007, when Indian Railway authorities decided to build a new rail line from Ludhiana to Chandigarh. During this construction, land acquisition was carried out in the village of Katana, and farmers whose land was affected were given compensation at Rs. 25 lakh per acre. Soon after, the neighboring village received a significantly higher compensation of Rs. 71 lakh per acre for the same purpose. This disparity was brought to the attention of Sampuran Singh, a farmer from Katana.

Feeling unfairly treated, Sampuran Singh took legal action. He appealed to the court, demanding that the compensation be raised to match that given to the farmers in the neighboring village. Despite negotiations with the railway department, who offered Rs. 50 lakh per acre, Sampuran Singh rejected the offer, and the compensation amount continued to increase.

In 2015, the court ruled that the Northern Railway should pay the increased compensation by the end of the year, but by 2017, Sampuran Singh had received only Rs. 42 lakh. This prompted him to go back to court, seeking the remaining compensation.

In a landmark ruling, District Sessions Judge Jaspal Verma ordered that the Swarn Shatabdi Express train, along with the Ludhiana station master’s office, be confiscated as compensation for Sampuran Singh. The judge directed that these assets be handed over to the farmer, effectively making Sampuran Singh the owner of the Swarn Shatabdi Express.

This extraordinary legal battle led to Sampuran Singh becoming the only person in India to own a train. However, the Indian Railways later agreed to pay the remaining compensation, and the court withdrew its orders. Despite this, Sampuran Singh remains a historic figure, recognized as the owner of the Swarn Shatabdi Express.

This rare incident has captured public attention, showcasing how an individual can, under extraordinary circumstances, become the owner of a major national asset like a train.