67-Year-Old Man Sues KSRTC For Not Picking Him Up From Tiruvannamalai, Wins Rs 1,000

However, the consumer forum judges did not accept the version of the state transporter since they did not provide any proof and did not produce the conductor. 

A KSRTC bus (Image for representation)

Chennai: A 67-year-old man sued Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for failing to pick him up at a bus stop in Tiruvannamalai in a bus bound for Bengaluru in 2019. The old man following the incident moved the consumer’s forum and has received a refund and aid of Rs 1,000. 

According to a report on Times of India, a 67-year-old Sangameswaran of Banashankari 3rd Stage booked a return ticket from Tiruvannamalai to Bengaluru on the KSRTC Airavat Club bus. On October 13, 2019, Sangameswaran reached the designated bus stop and was waiting for the bus. However, even after an hour, the bus did not arrive but instead, Sangameswaran received an SMS. The message mentioned the bus details and contact number of the conductor. The elderly man then contacted the conductor only to be informed that the bus left Tiruvannamalai since he did not come to the new temporary bus stop.

The senior citizen after the response had to take a bus to Hosur and then another bus to Bengaluru. However, the agitated Sangameswaran, who had a pre-booked sleeper ticket and wasn't reportedly informed about the change in the bus stop, went to the Redressal Commission.

Sangameswaran went to Bangalore Urban Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Shantinagar against the managing director and general manager (Traffic) of KSRTC.

The case was taken up in October 2019 but the attorney said that the incident took place in Tiruvannamalai which was beyond the jurisdiction of the department. The KSRTC counsel also argued that the passenger was informed through a message about the change in the bus stop and he failed to be present on the spot. 

However, the consumer forum judges did not accept the version of the state transporter since they did not provide any proof and did not produce the conductor. 

Hence, the forum in the verdict ordered the KSRTC to refund the price of the ticket, charges incurred for his travel in another alternative bus, and a compensation of Rs 1000 for causing trouble to a senior citizen.