21 years later, GSRTC asked to pay Rs 2.15 lakh to complainant

Almost 21 years after a family lost its luggage with valuables worth Rs 3.8 lakh, the state consumer forum directed the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) to compensate the complainant Rs2.15 lakh. The district forum held GSRTC partly responsible and said 70 per cent worth of the lost baggage should be paid by them as, it felt, the family had also not insured their baggage.

The case was heard after the GSRTC challenged the district forum order. The incident happened on August 1, 1997, when one Hiraben Patel and her family were travelling by bus from Nashik to Visnagar with seven bags. They had kept the bags on the trunk which the driver said was safe. However, after reaching Bhandu, the family found the bags missing following which they sued GSRTC.

The family later filed a complaint with Visnagar police which, after failing to find the bags, filed an A summary in the case.

GSRTC argued that no one keeps cash and jewellery in the trunk and it was not the transport service's responsibility if the bags were lost.

The counsel for the family argued that it had been proven that the family had placed their bags in the trunk of the bus. It further said the FIR and the subsequent investigations had also proved that the bag had been stolen. It also argued that the district forum had compensated only 70% of the real worth of the baggage, despite the family producing bills.

The state forum, which dismissed demands of both parties, upheld the Mehsana district forum order and observed that it was the responsibility of the transport service to ensure safety of the baggage.