The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Ernakulam, Kerala, fined a Bengaluru-based travel company after their Kochi-Bengaluru bus broke down several times. The bus also stopped for a long time at Walayar check-post due to unpaid vehicle taxes. This delay nearly spoiled a job aspirant's chance to reach her exam on time. The passengers, Anil Baby and Sneha Rose Kurien from Kakkanad, had booked tickets for ₹3,174 in May 2023. Ms. Kurien was going to take an exam for a scientist post at the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology. The night bus was scheduled to leave Kochi at 9:05 p.m. and reach Bengaluru by 6 a.m. to allow time before the 8:45 a.m. exam. But the bus first had a tyre burst. Then it was stopped at Walayar due to tax arrears on the vehicle. Later, it broke down repeatedly and only reached Coimbatore. Because of this, the couple had to hire a taxi from Coimbatore to Bengaluru for ₹14,000. The couple claimed the travel company did not keep the bus in good condition and failed to pay vehicle taxes, which caused money loss and mental stress. They asked for a refund and compensation. The commission noted the travel operator did not respond to the notice properly. The commission said, "A passenger transport operator is under a clear duty to provide a roadworthy vehicle and render the service with reasonable care and diligence. Failure to maintain roadworthiness and operational readiness, resulting in inordinate delay and compelling passengers to incur additional expenditure, squarely amounts to deficiency in service under Section 2(11) of the (Consumer Protection) Act, and also reflects negligence in rendering the service." It ordered the operator to pay ₹47,174 total. This covers the ticket refund and tax charges, ₹25,000 as compensation for hardship, and ₹5,000 for legal expenses.