Vegetarian served meat, Air India fined

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 27

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Air India to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a passenger who was served non-vegetarian food during his journey from Chicago to Delhi on November 14, 2016.

Chander Mohan Pathak, a resident of Sector 48, who strictly follows vegetarian lifestyle, alleged that it happened despite his clear instructions while booking the ticket. The forum held the public airline guilty of deficiency in service and causing mental agony and harassment to the complainant. The airline has also been asked to pay Rs 7,000 as litigation cost to the complainant.

In a complaint to the forum, Pathak submitted that there was no proper marking on the served meal to indicate whether it was vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

In its reply, the airline condenied any deficiency in service or unfair trade practice on its part and prayed for dismissal of the complaint.

After hearing the counsels of both parties, the forum observed that the cabin crew should have checked whether the complainant wanted non-vegetarian food, vegetarian food or vegan food.

“Since there is no evidence of any such enquiry having been made before serving meals to the complainant, we hold that it was a gross deficiency on the part of the airline,” said the forum, while directed Air India to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to the complainant within 30 days.