Forum asks railway to pay Rs 4,524 as compensation

INDORE: District consumer disputes redressal forum of Indore recently ordered senior superintendent of Indore railways station to pay Rs 4,524 as compensation for not returning money even after cancelling confirmed ticket of a passenger.
SN Tripathi, 70, a resident of Ashish Nagar on May 2009, had booked two tickets for him and his wife Sharda Tripathi from Singh photocopy agent situated at Scheme 54, for Indore-Bilaspur Narmada Express.They got waiting list 1 and 2.
On day of departure, when the couple reached the station they found of the two, only one seat is confirmed, therefore Tripathi called the agent and asked for cancellation of tickets. In reply, the agent said they can return money of unconfirmed ticket, but they would not be able to return the money of confirmed berth and for which they would have to contact railway department officials. When contacted, station officials who informed him they would return the money for confirmed berth, but it would take three to four months. But till date Tripathi did not receive any money from the railways. Tripathi moved the consumer forum asking railways to return Rs 1,524 for confirmed ticket along with interest.
In their reply respondent stated that the consumer had purchased the ticket from Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s (IRCTC) website via an agent. Therefore they are not liable to return the money of passenger’s ticket. Hence the consumer should ask IRCTC for the money. Consumer also did not use railway refund policy as per rules; and tatkal ticket should be cancelled within 24 hours of ticket booking. Hence, therew was no failure on their part to provide services to consumer.
After scrutinizing documents and events, the forum noted respondents did not produce any document regarding terms and condition for ticket cancellation and other evidences on record. Thus, holding respondent responsible for deficiency in service, the forum directed them to pay Rs 1,524 for confirmed tickets and Rs 3,000 towards litigation costs and mental harassment within a period of 30 day with 8% interest.