BENGALURU: A consumer forum has slapped fine of `10,000 on Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and directed it to refund the ticket amount to a family, which was allegedly insulted in front of other passengers. The judgment comes four years after the incident.
G M Panchakshari, a resident of Muneshwaranagar, had reserved tickets with M/s Thorana Enterprises on October 12, 2012 to travel to Tirupati from city, along with his wife, son and daughter. He paid `744 in total and was allotted seat numbers 18, 19, 20 and 21 in the bus, which was to depart from Majestic bus stand the same day at 11.08 pm.
However, when Panchakshari and his family reached Majestic, they were not allowed to board the bus. He was told that the tickets did not belong to KSRTC. Left with no other option, he had to pay `764 from his pocket again to board another bus in the midnight.
On returning, the complainant approached a consumer forum and alleged insult by KSRTC. In its defence, KSRTC stated that the tickets reserved from the private franchisee were cancelled within four minutes due to a technical glitch.
“There was no mala Fide intention and hence the complaint may be dismissed,” KSRTC urged. The bench comprising president T Shobhadevi and member V Anuradha, however, stated that the complainant cannot be held responsible for the technical snag. It directed the KSRTC to refund a sum of Rs 744 to the complainant. It also ordered to pay Rs 8,000 towards mental agony and `2,000 towards the litigation expenses.
The bench said the complainant himself travelled on the same day and there was no reason for him to cancel the ticket. One cannot imagine the agony of the person who is not allowed to travel in the bus despite booking the tickets in advance, the forum said.
“If he did not have money, it would have been difficult for him to travel that night. No person comes prepared to purchase another ticket if he has already reserved the seats. The complainant also produced the bill of the hotel where they stayed in Tirupati. For such technical snags, passengers should not face inconvenience. It is the duty of KSRTC to punish those responsible or negligence on their part,” the forum said.