Bus Conductor Refuses To Return Rs 1 Change To Passenger, Consumer Court Orders Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation To Pay ₹2000 Compensation

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission vide order dated January 31, allowed in part a complaint filed by Advocate Ramesh Naik L and directed the Corporation to refund Rs 1 to him and pay him a compensation of Rs 2,000 towards deficiency of service along with Rs 1,000 towards cost of litigation, within 45 days.

Further, it said that if the order is not complied with, the complainant is at liberty to file a criminal case against the Managing Director of the Corporation under Section 72 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

“The dispute appears to be trivial in nature since the complainant took the issue as a matter of right before the Commission. It needs to be appreciated and recognised as a matter of right of a consumer,” said the Commission. 

The complainant said that he was travelling in the BMTC Volvo bus on September 11, 2019 from Shanthinagar Bus station to Majestic. The lady conductor of the bus issued a ticket for Rs 29 but she collected Rs 30 from him. He alleged that when he demanded Rs 1 back, the conductor refused to pay and started behaving rudely and shouting at the complainant "as if the commuter should not ask for Rs 1 change."

Naik approached the commission seeking relief of refund of Rs 1 along with damages of Rs 15,000 and other reliefs.

The BMTC denied any deficiency in services and it was contended that the non-payment of Rs 1 is a trivial issue but the complainant is trying to make it a big issue.

The commission said the allegation with respect to the non-refund of the change of Rs 1 appears to be proven fact.

“The issue of non-refund of Rs 1 is a small claim. The OP employee by refusing to give the same has conducted negligent and careless service to the complainant. In order to get the damages of Rs 15,000 the complainant has to establish his entitlement of damage. In order to get an order the commission requires strong proof, in absence of any evidence from the complainant side the Commission cannot grant a relief of damages. The prayer for damages is liable to be rejected," it said, while rejecting the prayer for damages.

While it refused to order payment of damages, the Commission said Rs 2,000 be paid for defincincy of service and Rs 1,000 be paid as cost of litigation to the complainant. 

Case Title: Ramesh Naik.L And Managing Director, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

Case No: CC 1900/2019

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