Spice Jet fined Rs 60,000 over baggage trouble to 75-yr-old passenger

HYDERABAD: Spice Jet Airlines was ordered by the Telangana consumer court to pay an amount of Rs 50,000 as compensation for the mental agony and physical suffering it allegedy caused to a 75-year-old passenger. The airline was also fined an extra Rs 10,000 for the costs of litigation.

The complainant, Ghansham Das Bajaj, claimed that his check-in baggage containing sweetmeats was missing and could not be traced after arrival at Bangalore airport. The complainant was travelling from Hyderabad to Bangalore. The Airport authorities, on being questioned, said that the baggage was not loaded on to the flight as they suspected there was a power bank in the bag which is not permitted as per the regulations, said the complainant.

The 75-year-old complainant, who had a medical appointment for his ailing wife, was compelled to juggle between Hyderabad and Bangalore airports to claim his unattended bag, which did not contain a power bank. Aggrieved by the deficiency of service of the airline, the complainant filed a case in the consumer court seeking appropriate relief.

Spice Jet Airways, denying the allegations, contended that the complainant's baggage was having a power bank and hence was not loaded on the flight. They further contended that the Carriage by Air Act, 1872 provided that in case the baggage was delivered to the passengers within seven days then, the carrier was not liable for action. The airline sought dismissal of the case as they claimed no deficiency on their part.

The court, at the end of the trial, said that the complainant being a 75-year-old passenger was put to severe inconvenience on arriving at Bangalore Airport. The court further said that the airlines could have informed the complainant through SMS or contacted him if there was any prohibited item in his check-in luggage. Hence, the court said that it deemed it fit to award compensation to the complainant for the delay in receiving his baggage.