Bengaluru, Nov 4: The Karnataka high court directed Air India to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to a physically challenged doctor and her mother for a missing wheelchair at London airport, which not only caused inconvenience but also caused mental agony to them during their Europe tour in July 2016.
Partly allowing a petition filed by Dr SJ Rajalakshmi and her 63-year-old mother Dr S Shobha, Justice B Veerappa observed that Air India's conduct violated the fundamental rights of petitioners apart from the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full participation) Act and it needs to compensated.
As per the order, the mother and daughter have to be paid Rs 10 lakh each.
The judge also directed deputy commissioner, Bengaluru South to take appropriate action against Girinagar police for not registering the complaint filed by the petitioners in accordance with the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code.
Both had approached the court seeking for refund of ticket charges and for re-arranging their Europe tour. Claiming that they had to suffer loss of income during the six-week period, they had sought compensation of Rs 33.3 lakh. According to them, the missing wheelchair, inconvenience and poor itinerary abruptly ended their tour.
Rajalakshmi claimed that on July 18, 2016 her wheelchair, checked in at Bengaluru airport, did not arrive at London and she was not provided the facility. They claimed they missed the Scotland train on arrival and the Scotland Airway flight the next day and reached only at midnight and could not visit may tourist places.
They contended that due to poor itinerary and food, they had serious health problems and were forced to abruptly return home on July 27, 2016 and were admitted to Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru.
The petitioners sought the court's direction to Air India and the private travel agent to pay them Rs 15 lakh towards loss of medical practice during the six-month period owing to hospitalisation and also refund of Rs 5.7 lakh paid towards air ticket charges.
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