Question

Dharma Tour & Travels was a tourist agency. It also had a group of hotels. The company offered new types of schemes to the potential customers. Deepak was offered a scheme of staying in a hotel for 6 days and 5 nights for free. However when he reached the destination he was told that every room of the hotel was booked. He told them that he was told earlier that his room was booked. He even showed them the confirmation he received on his mail.

1. Can Deepak file a complaint against the tourist agency?
2. Will he get a relief in this case?
3. Name the relief he will get.
4. Which consumer right has been violated in this case?

Answer 1

1. Yes, Deepak can file a complaint against the tourist agency. By offering a confirmed promotional scheme to a potential customer and then denying the promised accommodation upon arrival, the agency has engaged in a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice (misleading promotional offer).
2. Yes, he will get relief in this case because he relied on the agency's written mail confirmation, traveled to the destination, and suffered harassment and mental agony due to their failure to honor the commitment.
3. The relief Deepak can get includes:
   • Payment of adequate compensation for the mental agony, physical harassment, and any travel expenses incurred to reach the destination.
   • A direction to the agency to either provide the promised 6 days and 5 nights stay at a later date or pay the equivalent monetary value of the stay.
   • An order directing the agency to discontinue such unfair trade practices and misleading schemes.
4. The Right to Seek Redressal (as he has the right to seek relief against unfair trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation) and the Right to Information (as he was provided with false/misleading information regarding his confirmed booking status) have been violated in this case.