60-year-old denied bus ride over gender mismatch, bus operator told to pay Rs 10,000

In a recent ruling, a District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Tamil Nadu has ordered a bus operator to refund a 60-year-old passenger's ticket fare and pay him Rs 10,000 for the inconvenience caused by denying him a bus ride. The passenger, whose actual gender did not match the gender recorded on his ticket, had booked a ticket from Coimbatore to Kannur in Kerala.

Despite the operator's refusal to let him board the bus due to the gender mismatch, the commission held that the operator should have provided an alternative seat or refunded the ticket fare. The operator failed to do so, leading to the commission's decision. The complainant had to miss a crucial condolence ceremony due to the operator's refusal, causing him significant mental and emotional distress.

The commission directed the operator to refund the Rs 628 ticket fare and pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for the inconvenience and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.