The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Lucknow has directed low-cost carrier airline IndiGo to pay as much as Rs 85.5 lakh as compensation and damages for unfairly cancelling the air ticket of a passenger and forcing him to deboard a Delhi-bound flight.

Commission member Rajendra Singh, in his order, stated that IndiGo had to pay Rs 35 lakh as compensation to the complainant Vinay Shankar Tiwari for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, Rs 50 lakh for mental agony and harassment, and Rs 50,000 as the cost of the case along with interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum.

Tiwari had booked an air ticket from Lucknow to Delhi through Cleartrip on April 15, 2013. He checked into the flight at Lucknow airport and occupied his allotted seat. However, just before take-off, the cabin crew informed him that his ticket had been cancelled and rudely deplaned him from the flight.

Tiwari inquired from Cleartrip and was informed that on their side, there was no cancellation of the ticket. Further inquiry from IndiGo revealed that Shailendra had cancelled the ticket in the morning.

The state commission held that if it was presumed that the ticket was cancelled at 7.38 a.m., then why did they allow Tiwari to check into the 10.54 am flight. IndiGo airlines neither submitted the mobile number of the said person nor a screenshot of any message to Tiwari.

After going through the entire circumstances and evidence on record, the state Commission stated that there was a deficiency in service by IndiGo airlines and it also committed unfair trade practices with a passenger who was going to attend an urgent meeting at Delhi.

Also read: Tata Group wins bid to take over Air India for Rs 18,000 crore