THIRUVALLUVAR TRANSPORT CORPN Vs. SIVA PRASAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The opposite party Thiruvalluvar Transport Corporation against which an award has been passed is the appellant. The four complainants purchased tickets on 29.5.1992 paying a sum of Rs.170/- to go from Madras to Karaikal in a bus belonging to the opposite party. Their case is that they boarded the bus at 6.30 p. m. on 30.5.1992 and the bus reached Sirkali around 1.30 a. m. There, according to the complainants, they were asked to get down from the bus stating that the bus cannot travel beyond Sirkali since it had no permit to enter into the Pondicherry State. At that time, the complainants had no means for travel to go to their destination. Due to the said deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties, they were forced to spend the whole night at Sirkali with great mental agony. The next morning, they engaged a taxi for Rs.250/- to go to Sirkali and thereby they incurred unnecessary expenses. On account of this, the complainants have also suffered business loss. On these grounds the complaint was filed.

(2.) The opposite party contended that since the usual bus from Madras to Karaikal was under repair and also since there was no other bus with permit to go into the Pondicherry State, they informed the complainants that the bus would go only upto Sirkali and that those who wanted to cancel their tickets could do so. But the complainants wanted to proceed in the bus which went upto Sirkali. In these circumstances, there is no deficiency in service on their part.

(3.) The District Forum held that it is true that there was deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party. Thus holding, it awarded a compensation of Rs.3,000/- to the four complainant with a cost of Rs.500/-.