RAJIV GOYAL Vs. INDIAN AIRLINES LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been directed by the complainant against order dated 26.8.2008 passed by Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum -I, U.T. Chandigarh (hereinafter to be referred as District Consumer Forum) vide which complaint of appellant(complainant) Rajiv Goyal was accepted and he was awarded compensation of Rs. 10,000 against respondents for causing him mental and physical harassment by cancelling the flight and further to refund the amount of Rs. 1640 as he had to get the ticket cancelled of Shatabadi from New Delhi to Chandigarh for I 9.7.2007 and further to pay Rs. 2,500 as costs of litigation. The amount was directed to be paid within 30 days, failing which same would carry penal interest @ 12% p.a. from the date of filing of complaint i.e. 11.1.2008 till payment.

(2.) BRIEFLY stated the facts are that the appellant (complainant) planned a pilgrimage along with his family members to holy shrine Amarnath during the period 6.7.2007 to 9.7.2007. Consequently he travelled along with his family from Chandigarh to Delhi and then to Srinagar and it was a hopping flight from Delhi to Srinagar with stay at Jammu to pick up passengers before proceeding to Srinagar. However, the Indian Airlines cancelled further flight to Srinagar from Jammu Airport and passengers were stranded at Jammu Airport. The said flight was cancelled without any cogent reason. The allegation of appellant is that the flight was cancelled because sufficient number of passengers were not available at Jammu Airport. The appellant had to undergo mental harassment as accommodation in hotel Hari Niwas was provided by the respondent after a lot of efforts made by him.

(3.) IT was next averred that due to cancellation of flight of Indian Airlines, his entire planned travel arrangement was disturbed and all the bookings subsequent to his scheduled arrival from 7.7.2007 onwards were got cancelled which inter alia included taxi booking, hotel booking, helicopter booking, sight seeing, return flight, return train tickets etc.