AJIT KR MOHANTY Vs. DISTRICT TRANSPORT MANAGER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a complaint making a grievance in respect of deficiency of transport service by the Orissa State Transport Corporation and its employees.

(2.) Complainant is a Professor in Psychology of Utkal University. His grievance is that he booked an advanced ticket at Rourkela to travel to Bhubaneswar by Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Nonstop bus on 4.1.1990. At the time of booking, he enquired whether the bus would stop at Kansbahal to pick up passenger and he was intimated that although Kansbahal is not a stoppage for the Nonstop bus, in case he books the ticket from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar with intimation to Board, at Kansbahal he would be picked up from that place. On such information, he paid the fare of Rs.75/- and purchased a ticket where it was mentioned that the bus OSE 3647 would be the Nonstop bus on 4.1.1990 and in the ticket, it was mentioned that he would be picked up from Kansbahal. The bus was to reach Kansbahal around 9 p. m. However, complainant waited at the usual place for bus stop from 8.30 p. m. But passed by that way at 9.20 p. m. but did not stop to pick him up. He had urgent work at Vanivihar next day in connection with examination of a candidate who submitted a Ph. D. thesis under his guidance and supervision, and his grand-mother was also ailing at Puri. As the bus did not stop, he had to make other arrangement to move to Bhubaneswar where he reached late. The viva voce examination had to be rescheduled and he could reach Puri on 6.1.1990 on which day his grandmother expired. He stated that he ascertained at Bhubaneswar from the driver and cleaner that they had seen him and the driver slowed down intending to stop the bus to lift me but the conductor instructed the driver to move on. When the conductor was asked about it, he did not behave well. The District Transport Manager of Bhubaneswar was also not prepared to listen to the grievance of the complainant. As advised by the District Transport Manager, a complaint was lodged before his counterpart at Rourkela seeking refund of the fare which was received at Rourkela on 4.1.1990. He proceeded to Rourkela on 21.1.1990 but could not meet the District Transport Manager and the employees were of no assistance to him. On 15.3.1990, he wrote another letter to the District Transport Manager of O. S. R. T. C. at Rourkela and on 1.5.1990, he got a reply that the Non-stop Deluxe bus detained at Kansbahal due to blockade for a considerable time but no intending passenger did turn up to board the bus there. Accordingly, complainant has made a claim of Rs.1,00,0001/- as compensation for deficiency of service.

(3.) District Transport Manager, Rourkela has stated that there is no bus stop for the Non-stop bus at Kansbahal and no employees competent to stop the bus at that place. The Conductor although made a party has not stated his case.