Travel firm told to refund Rs 2 lakh to elderly couple

Mumbai: The state consumer dispute redressal commission has directed Kesari Tours Private Ltd. to refund Rs 2 lakh to a senior citizen of Shivaji Nagar, Pune. While passing the order, the commission held that the travel company could not grab the entire amount on the pretext of it being non-refundable.

According to the appeal filed by the company, Satishchandra Ghatwal, had booked three seats with Kesari Tours for a foreign tour on March 17, 2012, and paid up Rs 4 lakh.

Unfortunately however, on May 16, 2012, Mr Ghatwal’s elder sister met with a road accident and died. As a result, the complainant had no option but to cancel the tour. However, the tour operator refused to refund the Rs 4 lakh amount.

Subsequently, Mr Ghatwal approached the Pune district consumer forum, which directed the travel company to pay Rs 3,20,000 to Mr Ghatwal within six weeks.

The tour company challenged the district forum order and submitted in writing to the state commission. The company contended that it had spent money on bookings, air tickets, visas, insurance, tour supervision expenditure, snacks, overhead sales expenditure and other costs. Therefore, there was no question of returning the money.

However, president of the commission A.P. Bhangale and D.R. Shirasao held that though the company had a justification for denying refund, it should be considered that the tour wasn’t cancelled deliberately.