The Jalandhar Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered Air India to refund Rs 2.16 lakh plus six per cent interest to Kultar Singh Johal, an England-based NRI, after the airline failed to return his ticket money for over five years.
The case dates back to January 2021, when the 67-year-old booked an Amritsar-Heathrow flight that was subsequently cancelled due to “operational reasons”. Despite Johal’s repeated emails and a 2022 legal notice, Air India repeatedly claimed the refund was “under process” without disbursing the funds.
The commission rejected Air India’s claim that the case belonged in the UK, noting that the ticket was paid for ticket via a Jalandhar bank account.
The Bench slammed the “inordinate delay” and unjustified withholding of funds as unfair trade practice. The commission ordered Air India to refund Rs 2,16,930 plus six per cent annual interest to the complainant.
The commission also awarded Rs 20,000 as compensation for mental harassment and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.
