Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South), directed Jet Airways (India) Ltd, a grounded international airline based in Mumbai, to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to three air passengers for leaving them stranded at Chennai airport six years ago.
Despite having valid tickets and boarding passes, the flight left for Pune from Chennai airport leaving them in lurch in Chennai.
In the petition, Emelda Joe of Cuddalore, Kayalvizhi Arivazhagan of Tiruchy and Saraswathi Kannan of Tirupur submitted that they are the members of International Inner Wheel Organisation. They were scheduled to take part in the District Chairmen’s Training Institute at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on April 1, 2013.
They planned to travel by a Jet Airways flight and booked tickets through Deccan Air Services (P) Ltd., Kilpauk for travel in a flight at 5.35 AM on April 1, 2013. They paid Rs 3,312 each for ticket.
They reached the airport in advance and boarding passes were issued to them at 4.40 am by the airways staff. They waited near the counter for the announcement regarding the departure of the flight. But no announcement was made for their flight even after the scheduled departure time. They were shocked to see their baggage lying unattended near the counter and staff informed them that the flight already left after several announcements The act of Managing Director, M/s. Jet Airways (India), Chennai, Managing Director, Deccan Air Services (P) Ltd., Kilpauk and Airport Manager, Airports Authority of India, Chennai amounts to deficiency in service. They sought compensation from them.
The Managing Director, M/s. Jet Airways (India) and Managing Director, Deccan Air Services (P) Ltd., had not appeared before the forum. In the reply Airport Manager, Airports Authority of India, the complaint is not maintainable against the official and the complaint liable to be dismissed as a mis-joinder of the party.
The bench comprising its president M. Mony and member R. Baskarkumaravel said considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Forum is of the considered view that Managing Director, M/s. Jet Airways, Managing Director, Deccan Air Services and Airport Manager, Airports Authority of India, committed deficiency in service.
The bench directed them jointly and severally to refund Rs 9,936 with a compensation of Rs 15,000 for mental agony to the petitioners.
