Welfare provisions to meet preponderance of probabilities standard

The Supreme Court has emphasized that Section 124-A of the Railways Act, 1989, being a welfare provision, requires a preponderance-of-probabilities standard rather than criminal-standard proof. In the matter of the appeal under special leave against the judgment of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Principal Seat at Jabalpur, dated 15 May 2024, the Supreme Court on 8 October 2025, by a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, allowed the appeal in part and directed payment of compensation to the appellants, holding that the deceased, late Sanjesh Kumar Yagnik, was a bona fide passenger at the time of the alleged railway accident.

The Court noted that the deceased, on 19 May 2017, had purchased a second-class ticket from Indore to Ujjain on Train No. 12465, Ranthambore Express, and fell from the running train near Police Station Narwar, resulting in fatal head injuries. While the Railway Claims Tribunal, Bhopal, and the High Court had dismissed the claim for compensation on the ground that the ticket was not recovered and the investigating officer was not examined, the Supreme Court held that these procedural irregularities did not negate the claim. Relying on precedents including Union of India v. Rina Devi, Kamukayi v. Union of India, and Doli Rani Saha v. Union of India, the Court reaffirmed that once a claimant establishes prima facie evidence of travel and occurrence of an untoward incident, the burden shifts to the Railways to disprove bona fide travel.

Verified issuance of a ticket and corroboration from the Divisional Railway Manager constituted sufficient evidence to establish that the deceased was a passenger. Consequently, the Supreme Court set aside the judgments of both the Tribunal and the High Court, awarding compensation of ₹8,00,000 (Rupees Eight Lakhs) to the widow and minor son of the deceased, payable within eight weeks, with interest at 6% per annum in case of delay.

Takeaway: The Supreme Court clarified that technical lapses in ticket recovery or witness examination cannot defeat claims under Section 124-A of the Railways Act; once credible evidence establishes travel and an untoward incident, statutory presumption favors the claimant, ensuring access to compensation under this welfare provision.

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Legal Interns – Contract Validation Project at Eaton (Remote)

Legal Interns now have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in contract lifecycle management with Eaton, a global leader in intelligent power management. Eaton is seeking law graduates with BA LLB or BBA LLB degrees to join its Contract Validation Project under the legal team. This is a career-defining chance for young legal professionals to work on a structured, data-driven project supporting Eaton’s Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems.

About Eaton

Eaton is a multinational power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and the environment through sustainable technologies. Operating in over 175 countries, Eaton is transforming how the world uses electrical and mechanical power. With innovation at its core, the company is committed to digital transformation and smarter legal operations.

As part of this mission, Eaton is streamlining its contract lifecycle management system to ensure better compliance, efficiency, and accuracy. Legal Interns joining this initiative will be at the heart of this digital legal transformation.

Position: Legal Intern – Contract Validation Project

  • Role Type: Internship (Full-time or part-time as per project needs)
  • Location: Remote (may vary slightly based on project requirements)
  • Start Date: Immediate or based on candidate availability
  • Duration: Short-term project-based internship

Key Responsibilities

As Legal Interns on this project, your work will involve validating and organizing legal data within Eaton’s internal contract management systems. You will:

  • Validate contract data stored on SharePoint against structured manifests containing 30+ specific data fields.
  • Review, extract, and confirm the accuracy of key contract terms such as parties, contract value, effective/expiry dates, jurisdictions, and renewal clauses.
  • Populate and verify this information within DocuSign CLM, Eaton’s contract lifecycle management platform.
  • Work collaboratively with Eaton’s legal operations and contract administration teams to ensure data integrity.
  • Escalate unclear or missing information to internal stakeholders for resolution.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for naming conventions, tagging, and compliance requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Legal Interns position, candidates must meet the following qualifications:

  • Must have completed a BA LLB or BBA LLB from a recognized Indian university.
  • Strong foundational knowledge of contract law and standard contractual terms.
  • Good attention to detail and ability to work with structured data formats.
  • Familiarity with document review platforms or legal tech tools (DocuSign CLM experience is a plus).
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to coordinate with remote teams.
  • Self-motivated, organized, and able to meet tight project deadlines.

Joining Eaton as a Legal Intern will help you build vital professional and technical skills, including:

  • Practical experience in contract validation and lifecycle management
  • Familiarity with enterprise-level CLM platforms such as DocuSign
  • Improved accuracy and diligence in reviewing legal documentation
  • Exposure to global best practices in legal operations and compliance
  • Understanding of how multinational companies manage legal risk and documentation at scale

Why Intern at Eaton?

Working as a Legal Intern at Eaton gives you a front-row seat to how legal departments function in a global tech-driven company. You’ll gain valuable experience in legal data analysis, digital transformation, and CLM systems—skills that are increasingly in demand across industries.

Other benefits include:

  • Remote flexibility with structured learning
  • Mentorship from experienced legal professionals
  • Certificate of internship upon successful completion
  • Exposure to legal-tech platforms used in modern in-house legal departments
  • A meaningful opportunity to contribute to a sustainability-focused global enterprise

How to Apply

Apply Now: https://lnkd.in/gpJVFX49
Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applicants are preferred.

Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience with contracts, internships, or exposure to legal technology. If selected, you’ll be contacted via email for the next steps.

Final Word

If you’re a recent law graduate looking to enter the world of corporate law, technology, and legal operations, this internship is your gateway. As a Legal Intern at Eaton, you won’t just review contracts—you’ll help reshape how a global business manages legal data. Take this opportunity to kickstart your career with impact and innovation.

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