Monday, September 29, 2014

Air India told to refund ticket amount, compensation to baptised Sikh

Amritsar: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Air India to refund the amount spend by a baptised Sikh passenger on a domestic ticket along with Rs 10,000 as compensation for causing harassment and Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses. The passenger, wearing a four-inch kirpan was not allowed to board the flight from Ahmedabad to Amritsar.
In a complaint before the forum, the complainant, Amarjeet Singh, a 66-year-old resident of SJS Avenue, had stated that he was fully aware of the fact that Kirpan is not allowed inside International Airports so he had booked a domestic flight where it is allowed. Singh alleged that status of the flight was changed from domestic to International and as such he suffered from mental agony and harassment.
Singh stated before the forum that a month and a half before the travel date, September 24, 2013, he broke his leg in an accident and instead of treating him with sympathy he was treated in a harsh manner. As the complainant denied removing his kirpan and board the flight, he later came to Amritsar on a train after a few days.
Air India representatives, in their reply to the forum, stated that as per the guidelines, rules and regulations, carrying of a kirpan is not permitted in the cabin of an aircraft on an International flight either on domestic or International sector. It was submitted that on such International flights kirpan can only be carried in registered baggage in aircraft hold.
30/09/14 Sikh Sangat News
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