A Chandigarh consumer court recently directed Air India to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 to a couple for causing inconvenience and mental agony to a couple by giving them defective business class seats in a long air journey from New York to Delhi. The court took note that one of the complainants was handicapped and the couple suffered inconvenience despite paying 8 lakhs to the airlines.
The district consumer disputes redressal commission in Chandigarh further recorded that the complainants had purchased two business class air tickets for Rs.8,24,964/- from New York to Delhi. The couple were seated in defective seats as they failed to slide or move forward. The court order also said that Air India failed to rectify the situation despite complaints.
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The order by the court said that the broken seat caused physical pain and discomfort to the complainants and one of them even had swelling in his legs and feet throughout the journey.
The order further noted that as the aircraft seats were broken, the aggrieved couple had to use stools to support their feet throughout the 14 hour-long journey.
To establish their case the couple presented ticket receipts, medical records, photographs of the defective seats, and correspondence with the airline in court. The court booked the airlines for their inability to remove deficiency in seats throughout the journey.
“The said act of OP (Air India) amounts to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on its part, especially when the entire case set up by the complainant in the consumer complaint as well as the evidence available on record is unrebutted by the OP. Hence, the instant consumer complaint deserves to be allowed.” the order noted.
Recording the evidence, the consumer court ordered Air India to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 for mental agony and harassment. The court also directed the airlines to pay additional Rs 10,000 as litigation cost to the couple.