Consumer court directs travel agency to pay compensation

A consumer court here has directed a private travel agency to pay Rs 74,800 to Singapore based lawyer for not providing him a travel ticket after taking money from him.
Maintaining that the travel agency was responsible for deficiency of service, the court directed it to pay Rs 44,800 which the petitioner had spent for his return journey, Rs 25000
as compensation for causing anxiety and Rs 5,000 towards cost of the case.
The petitioner, a NRI, submitted that he had booked a to and fro travel ticket to London from Singapore. He was to leave Singapore on December 5, 2008 and return from London on December 18, 2008. He paid Rs 62,750 for the tickets to the travel agency.

However, as the travel agents gave the ticket for November 5, 2008 instead of December, he could not proceed to London. Later they gave a ticket for the next day, but did not give the return ticket following which he had to take another flight paying Rs 44,800.
The petitioner sought the court's direction to compensate him suitable.
The Consumer Forum President Deivaraj and member Lakam, who took up the case, said the travel agent did not appear in the court though summons were issued to the travel agency.
They held that the travel agency was responsible for deficiency of service and directed it to pay Rs 44,800 which the petitioner had spent on return journey, Rs 25000 for causing anxiety and Rs 5,000 towards cost of the case.