13 hrs ago
Consumer Commission Awards Student Rs 73,000 After Missed Flight
A college student booked a bus to reach Bengaluru airport for a flight to Delhi.
The bus was supposed to arrive around 5 AM.
Instead, it allegedly took a different route and arrived near the airport at 11:30 AM.
Because of this, the student missed the flight.
He bought another flight and paid extra accommodation costs.
The bus company said its rules allowed route and timing changes.
The consumer commission said those rules did not allow unexplained major delays without informing passengers.
It ordered the company to pay the student Rs 73,000.
The payment covers inconvenience, legal costs and extra expenses.
An Andhra Pradesh consumer commission ordered a bus operator to pay a college student Rs 73,000.
The student booked an overnight bus from Adoni to Bengaluru for a 10:50 AM flight from Bengaluru to Delhi.
The bus was scheduled to arrive at 5 AM but allegedly reached near the airport at 11:30 AM after taking a different route.
The commission said the operator failed to provide timely information or prove that an unavoidable emergency caused the delay.
The award includes Rs 50,000 for mental agony, Rs 10,000 for litigation costs and Rs 13,000 for consequential expenses.
- Who
- A college student, the bus operator and an Andhra Pradesh consumer commission were involved.
- What
- The commission ordered the bus operator to pay Rs 73,000 after the student missed a flight following an alleged route deviation and major delay.
- Where
- The bus journey was from Adoni to Bengaluru, and the missed flight was from Bengaluru to Delhi.
- When
- The bus was scheduled to depart at 11:15 PM and arrive at 5 AM; the flight was scheduled for 10:50 AM, while the bus reportedly arrived near the airport at 11:30 AM.
- Why
- The commission found deficiency in service because the operator failed to transport the student according to the represented schedule, provide timely notice of the route change or prove an unavoidable cause for the delay.
Student and Commission
Bus Operator
Route change and delay
Student and Commission
The student said the bus took an alternate route without prior notice and failed to reach near the airport as promised, causing him to miss his flight.
Bus Operator
The operator relied on ticket terms allowing route and timing changes because of operational requirements, traffic or safety issues.
Responsibility for the missed flight
Student and Commission
The commission said the student reasonably relied on the published bus schedule because it left a sufficient gap before his flight.
Bus Operator
The operator argued that assurances by drivers were not binding guarantees and that public transport operators are governed under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Proof of unavoidable circumstances
Student and Commission
The commission said the operator provided no satisfactory evidence of traffic diversion, road closure, breakdown, safety issue or another unavoidable cause.
Bus Operator
The operator maintained that its general terms permitted changes, but the commission found those terms did not provide an unrestricted right to deviate without justification or passenger notification.
Key facts
- Total award
- Rs 73,000
- Mental agony and inconvenience
- Rs 50,000
- Litigation expenses
- Rs 10,000
- Consequential expenses
- Rs 13,000 for further ticket and accommodation costs
- Bus schedule
- Departure at 11:15 PM and scheduled arrival at 5 AM
- Flight schedule
- 10:50 AM departure from Bengaluru to Delhi
- Reported arrival near airport
- 11:30 AM
Quotes
Andhra Pradesh consumer commission
The consumer commission issuing the compensation order
“Except relying upon the general terms and conditions, no satisfactory evidence has been produced to establish that the substantial delay was caused by any unavoidable circumstance beyond its control. The complainant had booked the bus after verifying the published schedule and made his onward flight arrangements accordingly. The scheduled arrival of the bus at about 5 AM and the scheduled departure of the flight at 10:50 AM provided a reasonable time gap. Therefore, the complainant cannot be at-”
indianexpress.com
“The opposite party, being a service provider, was required to exercise reasonable care and diligence in providing the transportation service in accordance with the schedule represented to the passenger. While minor and unavoidable delays may be inherent in road transport, an unexplained delay of several hours, resulting in the passenger missing a pre-booked flight, amounts to failure to render the service with reasonable care and diligence.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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