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Online Bus Ticket: In Himachal Pradesh, a court ruled in favor of a passenger after their bus ticket was cancelled just 17 minutes before the scheduled journey, ordering RedBus and the bus operator to pay compensation.

Online Bus Ticket Cancellation: If you book bus tickets online, here is an important update for you. A recent incident in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh has put all bus operators on alert. A passenger booked a ticket online, only to have the confirmed booking cancelled a mere 17 minutes before the journey was set to begin. The matter reached the court, which ruled in the passenger's favor and ordered RedBus and the bus operator to pay a substantial amount as compensation.

According to the court, it is the responsibility of both the online booking platform and the bus operator to provide accurate and timely information to passengers so they do not face any inconvenience. If the booked service is unavailable, it is their specific duty to inform the passenger in advance and spare them from trouble.

What is the full story?

In 2023, Jayant Patial, a resident of Kangra, booked a ticket via RedBus on a Bharmani Travels bus from Palampur to Delhi. According to the ticket, the bus was scheduled to depart at 10:15 PM. The passenger arrived at the boarding point ahead of schedule but discovered that the bus had already left. He later learned that his booking had been cancelled just 17 minutes before the journey was due to start.

Stranded at night due to the last-minute cancellation and needing to reach Delhi urgently for important work, he was forced to book a flight ticket at a high fare. Citing the excessive expense and mental distress caused by the situation, he approached the Kangra District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

What was the court's verdict?

During the hearing, the Commission observed that an online platform's responsibility does not end merely with the sale of a ticket; rather, it is essential to convey information to passengers in a timely manner if any issues arise. The Commission held that this constituted a deficiency in service and misconduct.

How much compensation will be awarded?

After hearing both sides, the Kangra District Consumer Commission ruled in favor of the passenger and directed RedBus Limited and Bharmani Travels to pay ₹10,000 in compensation, in addition to covering the litigation costs incurred by the passenger.