Deposit Rs 1 lakh in PGI welfare fund, Ola told

CHANDIGARH: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has fined Ola Rs 1 lakh for charging more fare than allowed for 1km by the UT administration, directing the cab aggregator to deposit the amount in PGI’s Poor Patient Welfare Fund.

Ravi Kumar, 31, a resident of Sector 29, said he booked an Ola cab on August 2, 2018, from Sector 29 to Elante mall, Industrial Area, Chandigarh, through a mobile phone application. At the time of booking, he was shown that after discount, he will have to pay Rs 22 only for the ride. However, he said he was shocked to see a bill of Rs 71.55 for a ride of 2km only, which meant he was charged Rs 35.77 for a km (without discount), which he called unfair, illegal and against the notification issued by the administration on May 15 in 2013. He alleged as per the notification, Ola could not charge more than Rs 23 per km.


The forum said though the assertion of the complainant that on his mobile application it reflected that the cab will charge Rs 22 for the ride is devoid of any cogent proof in this regard, hence can’t be considered. However, at the same time, it is observed that “the cab service ditched the complainant by giving him fake discount of 50% (coupon savings) as it was given on exorbitant rate/amount i.e. the rate exhibited in bill was already quoted on higher side, in violation of the rate, as mentioned in the notification.” “Keeping in view the above facts and circumstances of the case, the deficiency in service coupled with unfair trade practice is proved,” the order stated.

OLA cabs was then asked to pay an amount of Rs 5,000 to the complainant, towards compensation for deficient services coupled with unfair trade practice along with litigation charges of Rs 2,000.