COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has directed the Coimbatore Division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to a passenger who was drenched in heavy rain due to a damaged window on a government bus.
The incident occurred on September 21 last year when the petitioner R Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Sanganoor in Coimbatore, boarded the government bus from Erode Central Bus Stand to Coimbatore after purchasing a ticket for Rs 93. He got a seat in the last row near a window.
Heavy rain lashed the area as the bus was between Erode and Perundurai. Gopalakrishnan attempted to close the window, only to find that it was faulty due to poor maintenance. Rainwater poured inside, completely soaking his seat and leaving him drenched.
Despite complaining to the conductor, no proper attention was paid. Dissatisfied with the response, Gopalakrishnan filed a detailed complaint with the Chief Minister's Special Cell on September 29, supported by photographs and videos of the damaged window.
On October 7, the cell acknowledged the issue and informed him that the rubber cover on the window glass had been replaced and sealed with silicon paste, confirming the maintenance lapse. Following this, on October 13, Gopalakrishnan approached the Coimbatore District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission.
After hearing the case, Commission president Thangavel ruled that the TNSTC was guilty of deficiency in service. The commission ordered the TNSTC to refund the Rs 93 ticket fare, pay Rs 5,000 for the mental distress caused, and cover Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs, totalling Rs 10,093. The court directed to pay the amount within one month, failing which it will attract 9% interest.