Latest news with #SurinderSingla
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Forced to buy fresh air tickets after testing Covid +ve, doctor wins refund
A retired assistant civil surgeon, who was forced to buy fresh air tickets after testing positive for Covid-19 during his US trip in January 2022, has won relief from the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Sangrur. The complainant alleged that this was a violation of Covid-19 instructions and a serious offence under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Terming Air India guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practices, the commission has directed the airline to issue a complete refund of the $1,370 spent on the San Francisco to Delhi tickets, along with ₹10,000 for causing mental agony and ₹10,000 for litigation costs. The complainant, Dr Surinder Singla, had submitted before the commission that he and his wife, Dr Neena Singla, had booked return flight tickets between Delhi and San Francisco via online portal MakeMyTrip for ₹1,54,773. They were set to return on January 3, 2022. Before their return flight, Dr Surinder said, he underwent a mandatory Covid-19 test and tested positive on January 1, 2022. The couple immediately informed MakeMyTrip and requested the flights be rescheduled as per the government's Covid-19 policy. But despite repeated correspondence, the flights were not rescheduled. The complainant alleged that this was a violation of Covid-19 instructions and a serious offence under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. After receiving no response regarding rescheduling, the couple was forced to purchase new tickets on January 10, 2022, from San Francisco to Delhi, at a cost of $1,370. After returning to India on January 13, 2022, their request for a refund for the original tickets was declined by Air India. The complaint was filed against both Air India and MakeMyTrip. However, the commission exempted the latter from any liability, accepting its argument that its role was limited to acting as a 'facilitator' for providing confirmed tickets and that its obligations were discharged once the tickets were provided. No one appeared or responded from Air India's end. Thus, it was proceeded against ex parte. Stating that the evidence produced by the complainant remained unrebutted, the commission ordered Air India to refund $1,370 paid for the fresh air tickets, along with interest at 7% per annum from filing of the complaint till realisation. Further, the airline will pay ₹10,000 on account of mental pain, agony and harassment caused to the couple, and ₹10,000 for litigation expenses within 60 days from the receipt of a copy of this order.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Air India ordered to repay retd doctor after Covid flight dispute
Sangrur: A consumer court here has directed Air India to refund more than ₹1 lakh to a retired doctor after the airline refused to reschedule or reimburse tickets when he tested positive for Covid-19 before a return flight from the US. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The district consumer disputes redressal commission in Sangrur held Air India and its managing director liable for "deficiency in service and unfair trade practices" after the airline rejected multiple requests for rescheduling in Jan 2022 and instead demanded an additional ₹15,500. Dr Surinder Singla, then 62, and his wife, Neena, had paid more than ₹1.5 lakh for round-trip tickets from Delhi to San Francisco. With Singla forced to cancel his return flight after testing positive, the couple ultimately spent an another more than ₹1 lakh on fresh tickets. In its ruling, the commission ordered Air India to refund more than ₹1 lakh with 7% annual interest from Oct 2022, and to pay ₹10,000 each in compensation for mental agony and litigation costs. The court gave the airline 60 days to comply or face penalties. The panel, led by president Jot Naranjan Singh Gill, cited a 2020 Supreme Court judgment requiring airlines to refund passengers whose flights were disrupted by the pandemic. MakeMyTrip, through which the tickets were booked, was cleared of responsibility as only a facilitator. The order was passed ex parte after Air India failed to appear during hearings. Advocate Yogesh Gupta, representing the Singlas, called the decision "a victory for passengers unfairly burdened by rigid airline policies". Air India has until Sept 26 to comply with the order.
