The cause of this feeling of “unfairness” is actually the lack of sufficient public transport, including trains. There are not enough trains, especially so in South India. If there were enough trains, then internet booking would just be a convenience, and there wouldn”t be a feeling of injustice.

The other thing is Tatkal tickets. Earlier, agents would do buy some tickets in bulk, and sell it (only) a week before the scheduled departure, for a higher price. This was bad, (and I think illegal too) as it took the tickets that people who planned their travels well in advance could not get tickets, as they were blocked by the agents. Now, exactly the same thing is being done, but by the railways themselves. And now, suddenly, it is alright. This is again a result of not having adequate public transport facilities. The people who tried to book the tickets 3 months in advance (and are probably ready to pay more too) are made fools of, and people who try booking early 5 days before departure on 8:00AM will get tickets! And these normally include all the wait-listed ticket holders and people who didn”t get tickets 120days ago, along with people who just decided to go 6 days before the scheduled departure.