Passenger Wins After 23-Year Legal Fight, Air India Now Have To Pay A Fine Of 35,000
Air India Now Have To Pay A Fine: After a 23-year legal battle, passenger P. Sundaraparipornam finally got justice. The Madras High Court has ordered Air India to pay him ₹35,000 as compensation. This case dates back to 2002, when a hair was found in the passenger's meal on an Air India flight from Colombo to Chennai.
Also Read: "Rich people have problem with you," a woman sitting cross-legged at Taj Hotel sparked controversy
They also said that when the passenger opened the package, another passenger's hair might have fallen out. The Madras High Court stated that Air India was confused by its own arguments.
What was the Air India flight case?
On July 26, 2002, P. Sundaraparipornam was traveling on Air India flight IC 574. When he was served food on the flight, it was a sealed package. Upon opening the package, he found hair strands in the food. This disgusted him and he became ill. He tried to complain on the flight, but there was no complaint box and the staff ignored him.
A 'hair' was found in Air India's meal
After arriving in Chennai, he submitted a written complaint to Air India's Deputy General Manager. Air India sent a letter expressing regret and promising an investigation. Subsequently, Sundaraperipornam sent a notice through his lawyer, citing vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain, demanding compensation of ₹11 lakh. Air India again apologized but stated that it was not negligence but the fault of the hotel that prepared the food.
Court admitted Air India's fault
Air India argued in court that the food was ordered from the Ambassador Pallava Hotel in Chennai, and therefore, the hotel was responsible. They also argued that when the passenger opened the package, another passenger's hair might have fallen out. The Madras High Court stated that Air India is confused—on the one hand claiming no complaint was made, while on the other hand admitting that a complaint was made. The court stated that Air India itself admitted that a hair was found in the food, making it a clear case of negligence.
Also Read: You must’ve seen many gold teeth... This man even had a diamond embedded in his eye
Aviation company cannot escape responsibility
Applying the legal principle of res ipsa loquitur (fault is self-evident), the court stated that the passenger need not prove how the mistake occurred; the airline must prove that it exercised due diligence. However, the court acknowledged that the passenger did not provide any medical evidence proving serious harm, so the compensation of ₹1 lakh awarded by the trial court was reduced to ₹35,000. The court stated that the ticket included food, so even if the food was from a hotel, Air India was still responsible.
Summary
Finally, the court ordered Air India to pay the passenger ₹35,000 within four weeks. This decision made it clear that the airline's responsibility is not only limited to safe flights, but also to maintain the quality and hygiene of food.
.