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While traveling by Indian Railways, the first choice of most passengers is ‘Side Lower’ berth. Due to its proximity to the window, beautiful view outside and direct access to the aisle, people traveling alone choose the side lower option while booking tickets. But it is often seen that heated arguments and disputes take place among the co-passengers regarding the side lower seat. Many passengers assume that if the ticket is confirmed and the side lower is allotted in their name, then they can sleep on it for the entire 24 hours. If you also think so, then you are not aware of the strict rules of Railways. According to the rules of Indian Railways, the rights of sitting on the side lower seat during the day and sleeping at night are completely different.
According to the revised rules of the Railway Board (Indian Railways Sitting & Sleeping Rules), the time from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm is officially considered as ‘Sitting Hours’. Side lower berths cannot be reserved for sleeping only during this time frame. According to the rules, during the day, seating arrangements for both the passengers should be made by dividing the side lower seat into two parts. In this, a passenger of side lower berth will sit on one seat and a passenger of side upper berth will sit on the other seat. During the day, a passenger traveling on the side upper has the full legal right to come down from his upper berth and sit on the side lower. The side lower passenger cannot refuse to sit at all during the day nor can he forcibly travel lying down on the entire seat.
After sharing seats all day, the situation changes completely at 10:00 pm. The time from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am the next morning are the official ‘sleeping hours’. After 10 pm, the side lower berth belongs exclusively to the passenger in whose name the seat is booked. During this time, it is mandatory for the side upper passenger to go to his upper berth. Side lower passenger can combine both his chairs to form a complete bed and sleep comfortably. During this 8 hour period, a Side Upper passenger cannot disturb his sleep by sitting down. If a co-passenger insists on sitting down even after 10 pm, you can make an official complaint to the on-duty TTE.
Another big and complicated aspect of side lower berth is related to RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation). In Railways, side lower berths are often allotted for sharing between two passengers holding RAC tickets. If your seat in the train is RAC, then:
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During day time (6:00 am to 10:00 pm) both RAC passengers will travel on side lower.
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If the ticket is not confirmed even during night time (10:00 pm to 6:00 am), then both the passengers will have to travel by sitting on the same side lower berth or by mutual agreement.
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If a berth becomes vacant during chart preparation or journey and the TTE allots a confirmed berth to one RAC passenger, then the other remaining passenger gets the right to sleep alone in the entire side lower berth.
Human approach has also been given priority in the railway rules. If a passenger traveling on a side lower berth is a senior citizen, pregnant woman, disabled or seriously ill, he may be allowed rest during the day time also. However, for this, mutual understanding and cooperation among co-travellers is necessary. If a passenger is unwell, the TTE may request the Side Upper passenger to sit in some other vacant seat or lower berth in the main cabin.
If a passenger does not allow a side upper passenger to sit during the day, or after 10 pm, a side upper passenger forcibly sits down and does not allow a lower berth passenger to sleep, then it is considered a violation of railway rules. In such cases, the aggrieved passenger can lodge a complaint on ‘Rail Madad’ app, helpline number 139. TTE and RPF personnel reach the spot and vacate the seats as per the rules. For continuously breaking the rules and being rude to other passengers, fine or punitive action can also be taken against the concerned passenger under the Railway Act.