New Delhi: The Delhi Consumer Commission has directed Indian Airlines to pay Rs 1 lakh each to all passengers of the airlines' IC 814 flight, which was hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan in 1999.
The Commission also awarded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Rupen Katyal, who was killed by the terrorists in the Delhi-bound flight from Kathmandu nine year ago.
"It is a fit case where every passenger, who was on board on the ill-fated aircraft, is entitled to compensation under the Consumer Protection Act, as all the passengers had suffered the same injury and agony," the Commission President Justice JD Kapoor said.
The Commission's order has come on the plea of a couple, who was travelling on the plane and sought compensation for the mental and physical trauma undergone during the hijacking.
The plane was hijacked on December 24, 1999 by the terrorists when it was near Lucknow. It was taken to Amritsar for fuelling. It was then taken to Kandahar where passengers and crew remained captive for more than eight days.
The Commission turned down the plea of that Indian Airlines that it was the fault of Nepalese authorities resulting into the hijacking of the plane, as the flight had taken off from Kathmandu.
"It is incumbent upon the carrier to ensure that no unauthorised person boards the aircraft and if the airline fails in its duty, they and they alone have to be held guilty for the said negligence and deficiency in service," the Commission said.
It added, "...safety of the property and person of the passengers till they reach their destination is the most important ingredient of the contract."
The Commission noted that once any passenger enters into any contract with the airline for availing its services, he places himself at the disposal of the airline for safe journey to his destination for which he pays.
The Commission passed its order on the petition filed by Ashok Gupta and his wife Manju, who were on board the IC 814 flight on the fateful day.
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