TNR News Network
Shimla: A Himachal Pradesh man has been awarded a refund of Rs 1,108 after a six-year legal fight against the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). The refund, ordered by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, pertains to an illegally charged luggage ticket during a 2019 bus journey from Delhi to Mandi.
Inderjit Singh, a resident of Padhar in Mandi district, had purchased four separate tickets amounting to Rs 2,139 — Rs 574 for his travel and the rest for transporting different set of luggage. However, during a routine inspection by the HRTC flying squad at Sundernagar (Pung), he was forced to buy an additional ticket worth Rs 1,108. The inspectors alleged that his luggage was under-ticketed, even though no proper weighing was done using a machine.
Despite showing all existing tickets, the officials offloaded his goods and demanded the extra payment, a move the state commission later deemed an “unfair trade practice.”
Lower forum rejected plea, state commission overturned order
Inderjit first approached the Mandi District Consumer Forum in May 2019. However, the forum dismissed his plea with costs. Undeterred, he appealed to the State Consumer Commission, which on April 27, 2024, overturned the district order and ruled in his favor.
The commission, led by Justice Inder Singh Mehta, noted that records from the electronic ticketing system clearly confirmed valid ticket purchases made by Singh on April 10, 2019. It found HRTC’s conduct to be unjustified and in violation of consumer protection laws.
Interest awarded alongside refund
The State Consumer Commission has now directed HRTC to refund the Rs 1,108 along with 9% annual interest, calculated from the date of complaint filing to the date of actual recovery. The transport body has been given 45 days to comply with the order.
This case has highlighted flaws in HRTC’s enforcement practices and serves as a reminder of the importance of due process, even in everyday transactions like public transport.
