Consumer Court Grants Woman Rs. 1.65 Lakh Compensation After Petrol Bunk Denied Toilet Usage

In the past, we have come across several reports where customers who have faced issues with a particular product or service have approached the consumer court for redressal. Recently, a woman from Kerala was granted compensation of Rs 1.65 lakh by the consumer court after she filed a complaint against a petrol pump that refused to open the washroom.

The video has been shared by Manorama News on their YouTube channel. The complainant in this case was Mrs. Jayakumari, who is working as a teacher. She is a native of the Pathanamthitta district and had to face this issue last year in May at a petrol pump in the Payyoli region of Kozhikode.

Jayakumari was travelling from Kasaragod to Pathanamthitta when she decided to take a washroom break at a Thenankalil petrol pump. It was an Indian Oil petrol pump. She stopped to refill, and after refuelling, she asked the petrol pump staff for the washroom. However, when she asked for the toilet, the staff refused to open the facility and mocked her.

When Jayakumari realised that they were not going to let her use the toilet, she called the police, who immediately reached the petrol pump. When the cops came and asked for the key, the employees refused to give it and said they didn’t have the keys. The officers broke the lock on the gate and made arrangements for the woman to use the washroom.

Jayakumari mentioned that she checked the toilet and found that it was completely in working condition and was kept clean too. She used it, and after she came out, the officers who responded to the matter asked her to file a complaint against the petrol pump at the consumer court.

In this case, the owner of the petrol pump or the team that manages the fuel station was at fault. The complainant not only filed the case but also presented the case herself. She presented all the facts and arguments in court and finally managed to get a favourable judgment.

As per the judgment by the Pathanamthitta District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, the petrol pump was at fault, and the court asked the pump owner to pay a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 15,000 as litigation charges to the complainant. Hopefully, the petrol pump owner realises the mistake and won’t repeat it.

What is the rule?

There are certain rights that you, as a customer, have while visiting a petrol pump. Other than inspecting the quality and quantity of the fuel, you also have the right to use the washroom at a petrol pump.

It is, in fact, the duty of the petrol pump to offer clean and usable washroom facilities to people who visit the station. Even if you are not a customer, you have the right to use it without paying any money.

If a petrol pump fails to provide services like clean drinking water and toilet facilities, you can actually file a complaint, and the pump might even lose its license for this mistake. In a country like India, public toilets are a major challenge, especially during road trips. The lack of basic facilities like this makes long road trips challenging for women in India.