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Are there any decided cases where consumer courts have awarded compensation to passengers who suffered injury while at the airport? There have been many such cases. In Geeta Jethmalani and Ors vs Airports Authority of India where a gap between the moving comb plates of the escalator at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi led to the tragic death of a seven-year old girl, the apex consumer court held the AAI guilty of negligence. The Commission awarded a compensation of 2,50,000 French Franks, along with 10 per cent interest calculated from January 2000, to the parents of the girl. Here, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the AAI also responsible for its lack of preparedness to deal with emergencies. If only the escalator had been switched off on noticing the gaping hole between the two comb plates, the child could have been saved, the Commission concluded. (OP NO 81 of 2001, decided on 5-8-2004). In Senior Manager, Indian Airlines and Ors vs Dr Jiteswar Ahir (FA No 270 of 1994, decided on 28-2-1996) the Commission held the airline liable for the multiple fractures and permanent disability suffered by Dr Ahir as a result of a steep fall from the aircraft. Here, after he had boarded the aircraft, an airhostess had asked him to disembark and identify his baggage on the airfield. Even as he moved towards the rear door and stepped on to the first rung, the step ladder was moved away by the ground staff, resulting in his fall. In Sunil Kumar Nair vs The General Manager, International Airport Authority of India and Anr (1996 I CPR 361 ), a heavy iron rod flew from the conveyor belt and fell on the right foot of the passenger, injuring him, even as he waited to have his baggage screened at the Chennai International Airport. He was awarded a compensation of Rs 30,000 by the Tamil Nadu State Commission. More recently, the West Bengal State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission awarded an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 to a passenger who fell and suffered injuries at the airport. While the 65-year old Biswas blamed the slippery floor of the airport, the Commission said he had not provided adequate proof, but deserved compensation for the medical expenses incurred as a result of the fall. (Karuna Ketan Biswas vs Airports Authority of India, Case No : CC/45 of 2010, decided on 30-5-2013.) Last week, while travelling on an aircraft, the airhostess dropped boiling hot tea on my leg, causing burn injury and also completely ruining my white linen suit and my image I was travelling to attend an extremely important meeting. I want to know if I can sue the airline for this negligence? Yes, you can. Soon after the consumer courts came to be set up, one of the first complaints received by the consumer court was from a passenger who suffered an injury in the gum as a result of a sharp metallic object in the food served by Indian Airlines during a flight from Patna to Ahmedabad. The passenger in this case was awarded a compensation of Rs 2,000. (Indian Airlines, New Delhi vs S.N.Sinha, FA No 56 amd 71 of 1990, decided on 9-11-1990, National Consumer Commission). Only recently, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission upheld the award of compensation of Rs 50,000 and costs of Rs 11,000 to a passenger who suffered as a result of a suitcase falling from the overhead storage for cabin baggage, just prior to the take off at Dubai. Even though there was no serious injury, the compensation was meant for the mental agony and harassment suffered by the passenger (Surinder Jathaul vs Emirates India/Nicolete, RP NO 2325 of 2013, decided on 26-8-2013)
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