The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Pay compensation to passenger: rights panel

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Monday, Jun 27, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Pay compensation to passenger: rights panel

K.T.Sangameswaran

Offensive behaviour of an STC conductor costs him dearly

CHENNAI: The offensive behaviour of a State Transport Corporation (STC) conductor in refusing to issue tickets to a passenger has cost him dearly. The State Human Rights Commission has recommended that the Tamil Nadu Government pay Rs. 5,000 to the passenger as compensation. Later, it should recover the sum from the conductor as per rules.

A Bench of the SHRC, consisting of A.R.Selvakumar and S.Paramasivan, Members, passed the order on a complaint by one K.Raju of Thathakapatti in Salem district.

The case of Mr.Raju, a retired police constable, was that on December 10, 2006 he along with nine family members and relatives boarded an STC bus bound for Salem via Namakkal.

He asked for eight tickets for Salem and two for Namakkal.

The conductor, R.Manoharan, refused to issue tickets for Namakkal stating that the bus would not go there. There were arguments between the two. He and his grandson were pushed down.

After co-passengers complained, supervisory staff intervened and the conductor issued the tickets for Salem, but not for Namakkal. After the Toll Gate stage of Tiruchirappalli, he issued the two tickets for Namakkal.

He also issued tickets to other passengers who boarded the bus at the Toll Gate to go to Namakkal.

The complainant said the conductor unnecessarily objected to the issuance of tickets and quarrelled with him.

In its counter, the transport corporation repudiated the allegations and said there was no allegation in the petition regarding any discrimination, curtailing of fundamental rights, insult or violation of human rights. The complainant was allowed to travel. An enquiry had been ordered.

On the part of the conductor, no witness was examined and no exhibit was marked.

The Bench observed that the solitary oral testimony of Mr.Raju coupled with other relevant and important data did appear to be adequate to prove his case.

From the overall picture, the Commission said, it was dismayed over the high-handed act of the conductor.

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