Consumer District Commission Holds Vikas Travels Liable for Failing to Stop Bus at Designated Location and imposes Rs. 10,000 Compensation plus Rs. 5000 for legal costs.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in North-East Delhi recently ruled against Vikas Travels and the owner of one of their buses for failing to drop a passenger at the promised stop, deeming it a deficiency in service.The Commission ordered Vikas Travels to compensate the passenger with Rs. 10,000 and pay Rs. 5,000 for legal costs.

Brief Facts: A passenger boarded a Vikas Travels bus from Jaipur to Delhi, assured that he would be dropped at ISBT Kashmiri Gate, a major bus terminal in Delhi. However, around 8:00 PM, when the bus reached Dhaula Kuan near Subroto Park in Delhi, the driver and conductor instructed all passengers to disembark, claiming it was the final stop. When the passenger questioned this and reminded them of their promise to drop him at ISBT Kashmiri Gate, the bus staff responded rudely and insisted that the bus would return to Jaipur from there.

Finding himself stranded, the passenger called the Police Control Room (PCR), which prompted officers from the Cantonment Police Station to arrive at the scene. The next day, on December 30, 2022, the passenger filed a written complaint with the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Cantonment Police Station. Needing to find his own way home from Dhaula Kuan, the passenger hired a rickshaw and paid Rs. 290 for the ride to his residence in Brahmpuri, Delhi.

Upset by the situation, the passenger sent a complaint letter via speed post on February 1, 2023, to the bus owner and other authorities, demanding Rs. 50,000 as compensation for the frustration and distress caused. However, he received an unfavorable and dismissive response. Consequently, he decided to file a formal consumer complaint with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in North-East Delhi.

When the case was heard, neither Vikas Travels nor the bus staff appeared before the Commission to defend themselves. The Commission reviewed the evidence provided by the passenger, which included an affidavit and various documents supporting his claims. Since Vikas Travels did not submit any written statement to contest the passenger's claims, the Commission accepted the passenger's account of events.

The Commission concluded that Vikas Travels and the bus owner had failed to provide the promised service by not stopping at ISBT Kashmiri Gate. This failure was deemed a deficiency in service. As a result, the Commission ruled that Vikas Travels must pay the passenger Rs. 10,000 as compensation for the inconvenience and distress he suffered. Additionally, they were ordered to pay Rs. 5,000 to cover the passenger's legal costs. The compensation amount also carried an interest rate of 9%.

Address: DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION-IV (NORTH EAST DISTRICT), GNCT OF DELHI. D.C. OFFICE COMPLEX, NAND NAGRI, DELHI-93
Area covers: SEELAM PUR, GOKAL PURI,BHAJAN PURA, SHAHDARA, WELCOME COLONY, MANSAROVAR PARK, SEEMA PURI, NAND NAGRI, NEW USMANPUR, KHAJURI KHAS, DILSHAD GARDEN.

Source: LIVELAW

NOTE: This article is written by Adv. Alok Kumar, a practicing lawyer in the Delhi High Court & District Courts. For any complaints or suggestions, you may drop an email at care@legalfree.in.