SC gives hope to grounded air-hostesses

Acting on a plea of five air-hostesses of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, who were grounded for putting on excessive weight, the Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the national carrier, now merged with Air India.

“If we find merit (in air-hostesses’ plea) we will restore your service,” a bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Aftab Alam said, when a petition filed by the air-hostesses was taken up for hearing. The bench issued notices to the Indian Airlines on their petition challenging the Delhi High Court decision wherein the airlines’ move to ground them for being overweight was upheld.

Advocate Arvind Sharma, appearing for the air-hostesses, said the High Court dismissed their plea without going into the core issue.

The Bench asked the airlines to respond to their contentions within four weeks and posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.