Indigo ordered to pay Rs 70,000 for loss of student's baggage in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-3 has ordered Indigo Airlines to pay Rs 70,000 to a BTech fourth year student as compensation for loss of baggage, mental agony and expenses.

Mr Shaik Noor Mohammed, son of Shaik Ameer Basha, of Jal Vayu Towers near Lower Tank Bund, filed a complaint against Indigo and Dnata Baggage Services alleging that they had failed to trace his baggage and settle his claim.

Mr Mohammed said he booked a return ticket with Indigo to travel to Dubai from Hyderabad on January 28, 2014. Upon his arrival in Dubai, he found that his baggage was missing and filed a complaint stating that it contained Rs 1.18 lakh worth of personal belongings. He said that he was forced to purchase clothes and toiletries during his stay and incurred additional expenses.

Indigo contended that the forum had no jurisdiction as the airline had no branch office in Hyderabad. It said: “Indigo shall not accept any responsibility for such items carried by the customers in their baggage.”

It argued that liability for loss, delay or damage of baggage would be according to the Warsaw or Montreal Conventions unless higher value was declared in advance and additional charges were paid.

Indigo said that it offered $300 as per international conventions to the complainant, which Mr Mohammed did not accept. It alleged that he failed to provide any proof of purchase made due to the loss of baggage.

The forum in its judgement on October 5 ruled that it had jurisdiction as the ticket was booked in Hyderabad and the complainant boarded the aircraft at the Hyderabad airport.

The consumer disputes redressal forum, further, observed: “When the airline accepted the baggage to be carried by them, they are the custodians of the same and a duty is cast upon them to deliver the same at the port of disembarkation. Failure to do so constitutes a case of deficiency of service.”