The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recently directed national carrier Air India (AI) to pay a compensation of Rs50,000 to a Mahim resident, whose bag the airline lost in 1998. Also, AI didn't issue a certificate, confirming loss of baggage, for 16 years, thus denying the passenger any claim from the insurance company, the forum observed.
A bench of president RC Chavan and member Usha S Thakare directed AI to compensate Rajesh Lobo.
AM Mascarenhas of Consumer Welfare Association, who argued for Lobo, said, "The bag was lost at London airport on October 23, 1998, when the complainant was visiting his relatives there. Despite repeated inquiries by him with the airline, there was no positive response."
On September 29, 2006, the forum, partially allowing the plea, directed AI to issue the certificate to the complainant. Mascarenhas, however, said, "Since there was no order passed vis-à-vis compensation, we appealed against it in the state commission." During the pendency of the appeal, New India Insurance Company, which had insured the complainant, paid Lobo Rs61,590, equivalent to $1,000, as compensation in October 2013.
However, Mascarenhas argued that AI had not been made to pay any compensation to Lobo for the harassment caused over eight years until the consumer forum order directing it to give him the lost baggage certificate.
02/04/14 Mustafa Plumber/Daily News & Analysis
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A bench of president RC Chavan and member Usha S Thakare directed AI to compensate Rajesh Lobo.
AM Mascarenhas of Consumer Welfare Association, who argued for Lobo, said, "The bag was lost at London airport on October 23, 1998, when the complainant was visiting his relatives there. Despite repeated inquiries by him with the airline, there was no positive response."
On September 29, 2006, the forum, partially allowing the plea, directed AI to issue the certificate to the complainant. Mascarenhas, however, said, "Since there was no order passed vis-à-vis compensation, we appealed against it in the state commission." During the pendency of the appeal, New India Insurance Company, which had insured the complainant, paid Lobo Rs61,590, equivalent to $1,000, as compensation in October 2013.
However, Mascarenhas argued that AI had not been made to pay any compensation to Lobo for the harassment caused over eight years until the consumer forum order directing it to give him the lost baggage certificate.
02/04/14 Mustafa Plumber/Daily News & Analysis
