Unhygienic, soiled, stained seat to passenger: Delhi client discussion board tells Indigo Airlines to pay 1.5 lakh compensation

A Delhi client discussion board has held Indigo Airlines responsible of deficiency of service for offering an unhygienic and stained seat to a girl and directed it to pay a compensation of ₹1.5 lakh for the discomfort, ache and psychological agony she suffered.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, comprising its president Poonam Chaudhry and members Bariq Ahmed and Shekhar Chandra, was listening to a grievance filed by Pinki, alleging that she was offered an “unhygienic, dirty and stained” seat whereas she was travelling from Baku to New Delhi on January 2 this 12 months.

Ms. Pinki alleged that her grievance relating to the problem was handled in a “dismissive and insensitive manner”.

Countering the declare, the airways mentioned that they took cognisance of the problem confronted by Ms. Pinki and assigned her a special seat, on which she willingly travelled and accomplished her journey to New Delhi.

Noting the proof earlier than it, the discussion board, in an order dated July 9, made accessible lately, mentioned, “We maintain that the other get together (Indigo) was responsible of deficiency in service.”

“As regards the discomfort and ache, psychological agony suffered by her, we’re of the view that she should be compensated. We accordingly direct the other get together to pay ₹1.5 lakh as compensation for psychological agony, bodily ache and harassment to her,” the discussion board added.

It additionally directed fee of ₹25,000 as litigation bills.

In its order, the discussion board mentioned that the airways had failed to supply the Situation Data Display (SDD) report, which shaped part of its inner operational information as per normal aviation protocols.

It mentioned, “There is no reference to this report in the written statement or in the evidence filed by the opposite party. The SDD is a crucial document used for flight operation monitoring and to record passenger-related incidents. The absence of this document significantly weakens the opposite party’s defence.”