Karnataka: Man charged Rs 10 extra for carrying laptop in state transport bus

A man in Karnataka was charged Rs 10 for carrying his laptop on a state transportation bus due to a flaw in luggage policy. The passenger was travelling from Gadag district to Hubballi on a bus operated by the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation when the driver-cum-conductor asked him to pay the extra fee (NWKRTC).

As per report, the passenger, is a “working professional” who spoke on the condition of anonymity and recalled turning on his laptop part way through his journey to Hubballi when the driver approached him and asked him to pay the surcharge.

The driver-cum-conductor approached to the passenger and cited an order issued by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), claiming that it also applied to the NWKRTC. The order excludes laptops from the list of luggage that can be carried for free unless it exceeds 30 kg.

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The commuter later discovered that the fee was not a one-time occurrence, but rather a directive from higher authorities to charge passengers Rs 10 more for using their laptops.

According to a circular dated October 29, the KSRTC has made some changes to the existing luggage guidelines. In particular, in an apparent attempt to “simplify” the baggage policy, the circular states that a passenger may carry luggage weighing up to 30 kg without paying extra. Suitcases, bags, groceries, vegetables, and coconuts are among the permitted items.

However, the order appears to have excluded laptops and other electronics from the list of items a passenger may carry, a loophole that the commuter claims was exploited to charge him.