IRCTC fined by Consumer forum for not refunding fare of waiting list ticket
16 Oct, 2013
A complaint was lodged with the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum against Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) claiming that the IRCTC didn't refund the fare despite the tickets not being confirmed.
The complainant said that he had booked six tickets under ‘Tatkal Seva’ on November 2, 2010, for travelling to Delhi. However, he had to travel by bus when he came to know through the railway inquiry that his tickets were not confirmed. When the complainant went to collect the refund, he was told that his tickets were confirmed after the reservation chart was prepared and so no refunds will be provided to him. Following this, the complainant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to know the final status of the tickets booked by him. The reply to the application showed that the tickets were not confirmed in the final reservation chart. The IRCTC defended itself by saying that the tickets were confirmed and that since the tickets were booked under 'Tatkal seva', refund of fare was not permissible.
The Consumer forum discarded the contention of the IRCTC and stated that non-payment of refunds even after a lapse of three years shows total collapse of the efficiency of the Railways. The forum has directed the IRCTC to pay a compensation of Rs. 25,000/- to the complainant. The order says “All this clearly establishes harassment suffered by the complainant along with others due to unfair service of Railways. We hold the opposite party guilty of deficiency and direct to pay compensation of Rs 25,000 to the complainant inclusive of value of the ticket, compensation and litigation expenses.”