Punjab

Sangrur

CC/214/2018

Gaganjot Singh - Complainant(s)

Versus

Ragasthan State Road Transport Corporation - Opp.Party(s)

Sh.Udit Goyal

14 Nov 2018

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, SANGRUR.

                                                               

                                                Complaint No.  214

                                                Instituted on:    01.05.2018

                                                Decided on:       14.11.2018

 

Gaganjot Singh son of Sh. Sukhjiwan Singh, resident of F-132, Officer Colony, Sangrur.

                                                        ..Complainant

                                        Versus

1.     Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, Anoopgarh Depot (Rajasthan) through its General Manager (Bus number yet not known and the same will be disclosed by opposite parties no.1 and 2).

2.     Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, Parivahan Marg, Chaumu House, Jaipur (Rajasthan) – 302 001 through its Managing Director.

                                                        ..Opposite parties

For the complainant  :       Shri Udit Goyal, Adv.

For opposite parties  :       Shri T.S.Sohi, Advocate.

 

Quorum:   Inderjeet Kaur, Presiding Member

                Vinod Kumar Gulati, Member

 

Order by : Inderjeet Kaur/Vinod Kumar Gulati, Members.

 

1.             Shri Gaganjot Singh,  complainant (referred to as complainant in short) has preferred the present complaint against the opposite parties (referred to as OPs in short) on the ground that on 19.8.2017,  the complainant had gone to Bathinda from Sangrur bus stand through RSTRC bus of OP number 1 at about 10:30 AM for taking the medicine of his father and the bus in question was an ordinary and non AC bus and the conductor of the bus charged an amount of Rs.130/- from the complainant against ticket bearing number 000250.  Further case of the complainant is that on the same day, the complainant returned from Bathinda to Sangrur in a PRTC bus, which was also ordinary and Non AC and the conductor of the PRTC charged an amount of Rs.115/- from the complainant for the same journey against ticket number 027610 dated 19.8.2017, as such the case of the complainant is that the OPs charged an amount of Rs.15/- in excess, which is said to be unfair trade practice on the part of the OPs.  The complainant got served a legal notice dated 6.11.2017 upon the OP number 2 on 7.11.2017 for refund of an amount of Rs.15/- so charged in excess and compensation of Rs.25000/- and counsel fee as Rs.2500/-, but nothing happened despite all this.  Thus, alleging deficiency in service on the part of the OPs, the complainant has prayed that the OPs be directed to refund to the complainant an amount of Rs.15/- along with interest and also claimed compensation and litigation expenses.

2.             In reply filed by the OPs, it is correct that the Op number 1 had charged an amount of Rs.130/- from the complainant for the journey from Sangrur to Bathinda as per the notification of Punjab Government.  It is stated further that OP number 1 has no knowledge that how the employee of PRTC had allegedly collected Rs.115/- from the complainant for the journey from Bathinda to Sangrur, which is best known to the PRTC.  It has been denied that the OPs ever charged an amount of Rs.15/- in excess from the complainant.  The other allegations levelled in the complaint have been denied.

3.             The learned counsel for the complainant has produced Ex.C-1 to Ex.C-7 copies of documents and affidavit and closed evidence. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the OPs has produced Ex.OP-1 to Ex.OP-4 affidavit and copies of documents and closed evidence.

4.             We have carefully perused the pleadings of the parties and heard the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties. In our opinion, the complaint merits dismissal, for these reasons.

5.             It is admitted fact that the complainant had travelled from Sangrurb to Bathinda through RSRTC bus on 19-8-2017 by paying Rs. 130/- as the fare and returned from Bathinda to Sangrur by PRTC bus by paying Rs. 115/- as fare. The complainant has submitted a notification of GOP- Department of Transport dt. 31-03-2016, as per which, the fare per passenger per km (in paise) for the ordinary buses has been mentioned as 92.00 w.e.f 01-4-2016. On the other hand, the Ops have submitted the above notification dt. 15.06.2017 in which the above rate has been mentioned as 102.00 applicable with immediate effect. Also in the reply field by the Ops, the bus conductor of RSRTC has  in his sworn affidavit has submitted that the distance from Sangrur-Bathinda is 125 km from Sangrur to Barnala bus stand and from Barnala Bus stand to Bathinda and issued the proper ticket as per the charging amount. On the other hand, if one goes from Sangrur bus stand to Bathinda via Barnala bye pass without touching the Barnala the distance from Sangrur to Bathinda 115 Km. so according to 115 Km the conductor of PRTC charged Rs. 115/-. The complainant in his complaint has not mentioned that if he travelled from Sangrur to Bathinda touching/ without touching the Barnala bus stand. Also no sworn affidavit in this regard has been submitted by the complainant in this regard in the support his case. Further the complainant travelled on 19.08.2017, as such notification dated 15.06.2017 is applicable in this case and as per this notification amount charge as a fare from the complainant is correct.

6.             In view of our above discussion and circumstances of the case, we are of the view that amount charged by the RSRTC is correct and no anomaly has been found. As such we dismiss the complaint of the complainant. However, the parties are left to bear their own costs. A copy of this order be supplied to the parties free of cost.  File be consigned to records.

                Pronounced.

 

                November 14, 2018.

 

 

                                                        (Inderjeet Kaur)

                                                        Presiding Member

 

 

                                                             

                                                        (Vinod Kumar Gulati)

                                                                   Member