Title - Railways told to pay passenger

BANGALORE: Collecting excess fare from a passenger who continues her journey by the same train in which she is travelling after missing the connecting one, amounts to deficiency in service, a consumer court has ruled.
Hearing a complaint filed by Benzy Joseph, a resident of Electronics City, the court has directed South Western Railway to pay the complainant a compensation of Rs 5,000 for deficiency in service and Rs 3,000 as cost of litigation.
In their August 17 order, president T Rajashekaraiah and member HM Shivalingappa of the 3rd additional district consumer disputes redressal forum gave a month's time to the railways to pay the compensation.
"The opposite party (railways) has impliedly admitted that the TTE has collected excess fare even though the complainant is not liable to pay it and for that reason, the opposite party has offered to refund that amount. In our opinion, the complainant was aggrieved due to collection of excess fare, and this gave rise to the dispute.
Hence,we are of the opinion that collecting excess fare amounts to a deficiency in service," the forum observed.
THE DEFENCE "On a complaint from Benzy Joseph, we have initiated disciplinary proceedings against the TTE. Necessary action will be taken against the employee if misconduct is proved," the South Western Railway said.
"The employee in discharge of his duty has collected excess amount as the complainant did not have any authority to travel beyond Palakkad in train No. 16525. Considering that the complainant did not travel in the connecting train, the authority concerned offered to refund the amount but the complainant declined. Hence, she cannot have any grievance against the railways and the complaint is liable to be dismissed."