After more than two decades, a 23-year-long legal battle between an Air India passenger and the airline has finally ended and the passenger has won.
Passenger Wins Case After Two Decades
The Madras High Court has ordered Air India to pay ₹35,000 as costs for negligence.
The case dates back to July 2002, when P. Sundarapariporanam was travelling from Colombo to Chennai on Air India flight IC 574.
During the flight, he discovered strands of hair in his sealed in-flight meal, which made him nauseous. He later filed a complaint and sent a legal notice demanding ₹11 lakh in compensation.
Court Rejects Air India’s Defence
Initially, the trial court awarded the passenger ₹1 lakh, but Air India appealed, claiming that the food had been prepared by an outsourced caterer and that the airline was not responsible.
However, the Madras High Court disagreed, holding that the airline was liable for negligence even if the catering was outsourced.
Court Applies ‘Res Ipsa Loquitur’
The Court relied on the legal principle res ipsa loquitur meaning “the thing speaks for itself.”
It ruled that the mere presence of hair in a sealed meal was sufficient evidence of negligence on the part of the airline.
Compensation Meant to Deter Negligence
Although the Court found no evidence of physical harm or financial loss to justify a higher compensation, it ordered ₹35,000 as litigation costs to deter such negligence in the future.
The ruling reinforces passenger rights and sets a clear precedent for better in-flight hygiene and accountability.
