Chennai: The Madras High Court has held Air India guilty in a 23-year-old case and ordered it to pay ₹35,000 compensation to the passenger. This case dates back to 2002, when a passenger found a hair in the food served on an Air India flight. Passenger P. Sundaraparipornam had filed a complaint against the airline. After a lengthy legal battle, the court has now delivered its verdict, acknowledging Air India’s negligence.
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About The Case?
On 26 July 2002 P Sundaraparipornam was traveling on Air India flight IC 574 from Colombo to Chennai. When the food was served to him on the flight, it was in a sealed packet. Upon opening the packet, he found hair strands in the food. Seeing this, the passenger felt disgusted and began to feel unwell.
He tried to complain on the flight, but there was no complaint box and the crew members ignored the matter. After arriving in Chennai, he sent a written complaint to Air India’s Deputy General Manager. In response, Air India expressed regret and promised an investigation.
Sundaraparipornam later sent a notice to the airline through his lawyer, citing vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain and demanding compensation of ₹11 lakh. Air India apologized, but stated that the negligence was not their fault, but the fault of the hotel that prepared the food.
Court Held Air India Responsible
Air India argued in court that the food was ordered from the Ambassador Pallava Hotel in Chennai, and therefore the fault lay with the hotel. The airline also said that it was possible that another passenger’s hair had fallen out while opening the package.
However, the Madras High Court rejected Air India’s arguments. The court observed that Air India was confused—on the one hand claiming no complaint was received, while on the other hand admitting that a complaint had been made. The court held that finding hair in the food was in itself evidence of negligence.
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Court’s Decision And Legal Reasoning
Applying the principle of res ipsa loquitur (fault is self-evident), the High Court held that the passenger need not prove how the mistake occurred. The airline should have proven its due diligence.
However, the court acknowledged that the passenger did not provide any medical evidence proving serious bodily harm, so the compensation of ₹1 lakh awarded by the trial court was reduced to ₹35,000.
Airline Responsibility Is Not Limited To Flight
The court stated that meals are included in the ticket, so even if the food is purchased from a hotel, Air India is responsible for its quality. The court ordered the airline to pay the passenger Rs 35,000 within four weeks.
This decision is a reminder that the airline’s responsibility is not limited to safe travel, but also to providing clean and safe food to passengers.