12 yrs after losing baggage in transit, flier agrees to half the compensation he was awarded

Fifty days after the SCDRC order, Ethiopian Airlines filed an appeal in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). The airlines said there was a delay in filing the appeal because “the office of counsel of the airlines was being shifted”.

The appeal was taken up on May 15, 2019, when NCDRC stayed the SCDRC order while directing the airlines to deposit the decreed amount with it. Subsequently, the appeal was dismissed on the ground of limitation.

The airlines then moved HC earlier this year. On October 21, Dewan informed the court of Justice Manoj Jain that “to put quietus over the matter, he would have no objection if the complainant is merely awarded half of such amount” of the compensation. Dewan also said that despite the alleged deficiency of service by the airlines, “the complainant has not got anything so far”.

The airlines agreed to the proposition, submitting that it “would have no objection if the complainant (Dewan) restricts his claim to half of the decretal amount with accrued interest on said 50% of amount deposited with learned NCDRC and the balance amount with proportionate interest is returned to airlines”.

Following the consensus between both the parties, the court disposed the petition, directing that “50% of the said amount, Rs 2.75 lakh, along with accrued interest, be released to the complainant… and the balance amount, with interest accrued thereupon, be withdrawn by the petitioner airlines”.