Bengaluru: State-owned Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was asked to pay Rs 10,000 to a passenger by the consumer forum for denying seat despite him booking it in advance through a private franchise.
GM Panchakshari, resident of Muneshwarnagr in the city had booked 4 tickets in 2012 to travel from Bengaluru to Tirupathi after paying Rs 744 towards travel and reservation charges. When he arrived with his family, including wife and 2 children, on October 12, 2102 he was denied travel though he was allotted seat numbers 18 to 21 in the bus which was scheduled to leave by 11.08 pm that night.
The bus left the bus-stand leaving the entire family of four stranded, who ultimately had to take an alternate bus by paying an additional sum of Rs 764. More than the money, the family got entangled in an argument with the bus staff over denial of seat and had to face abuse from the KSRTC staff despite reserving tickets for travel in advance.
Panchakshari boarded another bus by paying extra amount and on return lodged a complaint at the consumer forum seeking justice, explaining the series of events and the humiliation they underwent.
The consumer forum led by President T. Shobhadevi and member V. Anuradha took cognisance of the passengers’ plight and sought explanation from the KSRTC. The state owned corporation cited technical fault in the reservation system and justified its action denying seat to passengers and conveyed that it cannot be held responsible, in response.
However, the consumer forum took KSRTC to task and asked it to pay Rs 10,000 in total, with Rs 8000 as fine and extra Rs 2000 for harassing the abusing the passenger .
Ruling that passenger had not committed any mistake and had sought seats for travel based on prior reservation, the consumer forum categorically stated that KSRTC had no power to deny the seat to the passenger in its ruling.
It has also sought action against officials involved for their unruly behaviour and asked the state owned corporation not to harass customers citing technical reasons. It has also empathised with the customer’s plight stating, what would one do if the passengers ran out cash in such circumstances?
