When the bus was nearing Velachery, during routine check, the conductor asked him to show his ticket
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed Metropolitan Transport Corporation to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to a passenger for not accepting the one day pass for his travel five years ago.
Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed Metropolitan Transport Corporation to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to a passenger for not accepting the one day pass for his travel five years ago.
In the petition, V. Selvam, Kandanchavadi, Chennai, submitted that he planned to go to Thiruvanmiyur from T. Nagar on February 17, 2010. He boarded a MTC bus running on route M-7.
When the bus was nearing Velachery, during routine check, the conductor asked him to show his ticket.
Selvam showed the one day travel ticket he had purchased earlier in the day for Rs 30. After seeing pass, the conductor demanded he purchase a fresh ticket for Rs 5 stating that the ticket was not valid after 10 pm. Despite having a valid ticket, the bus conductor forced him buy a Rs 5 ticket to reach Thiruvanmiyur, he said.
Selvam contended that the act of MTC amounted to deficiency of service which caused him mental agony and hardship. He sought a compensation of Rs 60,000 from MTC. In their reply, MTC authorities submitted that the petitioner filed a false complaint not sustainable in law. The public sector undertaking operates two sets of fleets in the City. One fleet operated during day-time and other during night hours. For the benefit of public, MTC had introduced one-day bus pass for Rs 30. The ticket was valid from morning to till 10 pm.
The terms and conditions were mentioned in the ticket itself. The deadline commences when the bus starts its journey. In this case, the bus started at 10 pm and hence the conductor rightly asked the petitioner to buy a ticket, the authorities added.
The bench comprising its president B. Ramalingam, members T. Paul Rajasekaran and K. Amala said Selvam boarded the bus at 9:50 pm in T. Nagar and a quarrel between them took place at 10:10 pm. The problem was caused due to not mentioning validity period in the ticket.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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