The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Patna has ordered Qatar Airways to pay ₹50,000 as compensation to a passenger. This decision came after the airline lost the passenger’s cabin briefcase during his journey. The court found the airline guilty of gross negligence and rejected the small amount initially offered by the company to settle the matter.
What was the passenger’s complaint?
The case was filed by Prashant Kumar, a resident of Patna. He was traveling from Delhi to Sao Paulo via Doha when his cabin briefcase went missing. The bench, led by President Prem Ranjan Mishra and member Rajnish Kumar, heard the matter under Case No. 430/2023. They stated that losing a cabin bag showed a clear deficiency in service by the airline staff.
How much compensation does the airline have to pay?
The commission ordered Qatar Airways to pay a principal amount of ₹50,000 along with 9% annual interest calculated from September 12, 2023. Additionally, the airline must pay ₹5,000 for mental distress and legal costs. Earlier, the airline had offered just $150 (around ₹12,833) as a goodwill gesture, but the commission called this amount insufficient and unjust. If the payment is not made within 120 days, the airline will have to pay an extra ₹10,000 as recovery costs.
