Hyderabad: Consumer panel fines Srisairam Shubhayatra ₹91K for ruining ex-judge's Shridi tour

Hyderabad: Ranga Reddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the city-based travel agency `Srisairam Shubhayatra’ to pay ₹91,500, along with 9% to a retired judge for denying promised facilities and arbitrarily charging cancellation fee during a tour to Shridi.

The commission held the travel agency guilty of deficiency in service.

Trip booked for March, tickets issued for February

According to the complaint, Rayapureddy Lakshmi Shankar, a retired judge from Bandlaguda Jagir, approached the travel firm to organise a family trip to Shirdi on March 9 and 10, 2024. The package allegedly included accommodation in a five-star hotel and VIP darshan.

The tour agent, Rama Devi, quoted Rs 1,23,270 for the trip, which the complainant paid in full. However, instead of booking tickets for the requested March dates, the agency reportedly reserved them for February 10 and 11.

When questioned, the agency cancelled the booking.

Additional charges and substandard arrangements

The complainant alleged that the firm deducted ₹66,500 as cancellation charges and assured rebooking for the original March dates. It then collected an additional Rs 52,745, taking the total payment to Rs 1,76,015.

Despite the assurances, the agency allegedly failed to provide contiguous seats for the seven family members on the flight and arranged accommodation in a three-star hotel instead of the promised five-star facility.

Commission orders refund with interest

After examining the case, the Consumer Commission held the travel agency guilty of deficiency in service.

The Commission directed the firm to refund the Rs 66,500 cancellation charges with 9% interest. It also ordered the agency to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation for mental agony and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.