Kota, May 9: In a bizarre incident, a Kota-based engineer struggled for two years to get Rs 33 refund from the Indian Railways! The man made several attempts in the last two years just to get Rs 33 from IRCTC, which charged him the amount as service tax despite him cancelling the ticket prior to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). The 30-year-old man had booked the ticket in April 2017, before the implementation of the GST and later had cancelled it. It was booked for a journey on July 2, 2017, a day after the new tax regime came into force. Indian Railways Brings Airplane-Like Shopping to Trains! Passengers Will Now Be Able to Shop Using Debit and Credit Cards. 

The man, who has been identified as Sujeet Swami, was fighting to get a refund of Rs 35 from the IRCTC for the cancellation of a Kota-Delhi train ticket but received Rs 33, the amount after deduction of Rs 2. According to a PTI report, Swami had booked a ticket from Kota to New Delhi in the Golden Temple Mail in April 2017, for a journey on July 2. As the ticket, priced at Rs 765, was wait listed, he cancelled it and received Rs 665 as refund. Indian Railways to Fill Train Coaches with Water in 5 Minutes with New System. 

Swami informed that Rs 100 was deducted instead of Rs 65 against cancellation of a wait listed ticket. “I have been following up the case since 2017 and was given only assurances that the amount would be refunded,” Swami said. The report informed that an extra amount of Rs 35 was charged to him as service tax, even though he cancelled the ticket prior to the implementation of GST.

In its reply to the RTI filed by Swami, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said that as per the commercial circular number 43 of the Ministry of Railways, for tickets booked before the implementation of GST and cancelled after implementation, service tax charged at the time of booking shall not be refunded. So, Rs 100 (Rs 65 as clerical charge and Rs 35 as service tax) was charged against the cancelled ticket. IRCTC New Rules 2018–19: Ticket Booking, Cancellation, Tatkal & New Refund Rules Explained. 

The RTI reply further said it was later decided that for tickets booked before July 1, 2017, and cancelled, the total amount of service tax charged at the time of booking shall be refunded. With this, a sum of Rs. 35 will be refunded, the IRCTC had said. Swami received Rs 33 in his bank account on May 1, 2019. He had earlier moved a petition in Lok Adalat in April 2018, which, he said, was disposed of in January 2019, saying that the matter was out of its jurisdiction.

The man said it was a long battle that he had to fight for two years. “My RTIs were transferred 10 times from one department to another from December 2018 till April end. Finally, I have received Rs 33 in bank account,” Swami told PTI. Not satisfied with the refund, Swami further added saying that instead of compensating him for the “harassment” caused, the IRCTC deducted Rs 2 from the refund amount. “I will follow the case again as the IRCTC had said it will refund Rs 35 as per its commercial circular number 49,” Swami added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2019 01:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).