Focus on conduct, not weight, airline told

New Delhi: Instead of insisting that air-hostesses shed extra pounds and maintain slim waistlines, it would be better if the focus was on having courteous air-hostesses. The Supreme Court offered this advice to Indian Airlines(now Air India) on Friday while hearing an appeal filed by some air-hostesses who were sacked for being 'overweight'.
"All the passengers will be a happier lot if your air-hostesses extend better behaviour rather than your insisting on these conditions," said a bench of justices Tarun Chatterjee and HL Dattu.
The airline argued that in the present competitive environment it could not afford to have air-hostesses who are overweight and, thus, less attractive and active. To this, the court said: "In an independent country, will it be grounds to sack employees? Will it be grounds for dismissal? It can be struck down. We can do that."
The case has been adjourned till August.
25/04/09 Rakesh Bhatnagar/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Air India Domestic Apr 2009, NACIL Apr 2009