Himachal Pradesh Man Wins Legal Battle for Bus Ticket Refund After Six Years
Legal Victory for a Mandi Resident
Shimla: A resident of Himachal Pradesh has successfully secured a refund of Rs 1,108 following a protracted six-year legal dispute with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). This refund, mandated by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, relates to an improperly charged luggage ticket during a bus trip from Delhi to Mandi in 2019.
Inderjit Singh, hailing from Padhar in the Mandi district, had initially purchased four tickets totaling Rs 2,139 — Rs 574 for his own travel and the remainder for transporting various pieces of luggage. However, during a routine check by the HRTC flying squad at Sundernagar (Pung), he was compelled to buy an additional ticket costing Rs 1,108. The inspectors claimed his luggage was under-ticketed, despite no proper weighing being conducted.
Even after presenting all his valid tickets, officials insisted on offloading his belongings and demanded the extra payment, which the state commission later identified as an “unfair trade practice.”
Initial Rejection and Subsequent Appeal
Inderjit first sought redress from the Mandi District Consumer Forum in May 2019, but his request was dismissed with costs. Undeterred, he escalated the matter to the State Consumer Commission, which on April 27, 2024, reversed the district's decision and ruled in his favor.
The commission, presided over by Justice Inder Singh Mehta, highlighted that the electronic ticketing system records confirmed Singh's valid ticket purchases made on April 10, 2019. It deemed HRTC’s actions unjustified and in breach of consumer protection regulations.
Refund with Interest Ordered
The State Consumer Commission has instructed HRTC to refund the Rs 1,108 along with an annual interest of 9%, calculated from the date of the complaint until the refund is processed. The transport authority has been allotted 45 days to comply with this directive.
This case underscores the shortcomings in HRTC’s enforcement practices and emphasizes the necessity of adhering to due process, even in routine public transport transactions.