AIR INDIA (AIRPORT OFFICE) Vs. DIBAKAR BHATTACHARJEE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal has been filed against the order dtd. 19/2/2018 in complaint no. 487 of 2015.

(2.) The brief facts of the case are that the respondents / complainants (hereinafter referred to as complainants) had booked an Air India flight AI-21 on 13/8/2015 and handed over the check-in luggage at the counter of the appellants at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum as they were travelling from Kolkatta to New Delhi on professional purpose as they are advocates by profession. On reaching the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi when they failed to get their luggage at the luggage belt, they contacted the Baggage Service Cell of the appellants. Finally they lodged a complaint before the authority concerned at the airport itself as despite several efforts, the appellants failed to trace their baggage. Since they were not compensated by the appellants for the loss of baggage and despite efforts, they could not return the baggage, the respondents filed a complaint before the State Commission.

(3.) Upon the notice issued to the appellants, they filed their written statement. The written statement on behalf of O.P. No. 1 and O.P. Nos. 2 to 4 filed separate written statements. The appellant, who was O.P. No. 2 before the State Commission, contended that they tried to locate the luggage but they could not retrieve them. They even tried to contact the complainants over the phone to know the description of their luggage including its contents but the complainants had failed to provide any description. Also after a long gap, on 23/2/2016, the complainants send a message to the Air India, Delhi Baggage Cell enquiring about their lost baggage. It was also contended that the opposite parties were willing and ready to pay compensation as per the guidelines of the aviation sector.