Court fines airline Rs.20,000 for lost baggage

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) A Delhi consumer court held an international airline guilty of deficiency in services and asked it to pay Rs.20,000 as compensation to a customer for losing his bags.

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Thursday held Kuwait Airways guilty of causing mental tension and discomfort to Moti Lal Saini.

Saini, a resident of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, boarded a flight to Kuwait in 2004 but was deported back due to cancellation of visa by the authorities there. On his return flight he lost his bags.

Saini had booked three bags and all were lost. On finding his luggage missing, Saini deposited his boarding pass along with the baggage tags with the airline authorities.

The airline in its defence said that Saini did not carry any baggage with him and his claim was wrong.

'The version of the airlines does not inspire confidence as no person going on a foreign visit will not be carrying any baggage or getting minimum baggage say 20 kg checked in. Mere circumstance of non-delivery of baggage itself amounts to deficiency in service and therefore, entitles the consumer additional compensation for the expected or actual loss or for the mental agony, harassment or the emotional stress suffered by him,' ruled Justice J.D. Kapoor.