DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION ERNAKULAM

       Dated this the 3^rd day of May 2024

                           Filed on: 13/11/2019

PRESENT

Shri.D.B.Binu                                                                            President

Shri.V.Ramachandran                                                               Member Smt.Sreevidhia.T.N                                                               Member

C.C. No. 434/2019

COMPLAINANT

A.M.Salim, Ariyattil House, Pullaparambu Road, House No.39, Chakkaraparambu, Thammanam-682 032

VS

OPPOSITE PARTIES

1. Indigo Airline, Level- I to WER-C, Global Business Park, Mehrauli-Gurgaon-Road, Gungaon-122 002. Haryana

(O.p rep. by Adv.Aswin Kumar)

2. AL-FITA, Trading & Marketing Pvt. Ltd., MD.Tharish Babu-811 & 85000 www.altitaglobal.com , Kaloor, Kathrikadavu Road, Mathrubhumi Book Stall Opposite Kaloor-17

(N.A.Shafeek, Sreevila, Combara, Mathai Manjooran Road, Kochi-18)

F I N A L   O R D E R

V.Ramachandran, Member

1. A brief statement of facts of this complaint is as stated below:

The complainant states that he had paid an amount of Rs.38,350/- and had taken ticket to Kadmandu along with 4 others via Delhi which purchased from AL-Fita Tour and Travels.  As is stated in complaint, it is alleged that the tour travels had informed the complainant that no passport or visa is required for the journey to Nepal.  But when the complainant reached at Delhi they had asked for passport.  The opposite parties are Indigo Airline and Al-fita Trading and Marketing Pvt. Ltd.  Since the complainant could not travel from Delhi to Kadmandu due to the reason that the opposite parties had not instructed the complainant regarding the necessity of passport and visa for travel to Nepal.  The complainant could not go to Nepal and Kadmandu.  It is stated in the complaint that “ഞങ്ങളും കൈയിൽ ഉള്ള എല്ലാ I.D യും കാണിച്ചു  (വോട്ടർ I.D , പാൻകാർഡ്, ലൈസൻസ്) പക്ഷെ കടത്തി വിട്ടില്ല.  3   മണിക്കൂർ തടഞ്ഞു നിർത്തി തിരികെ അയച്ചു ടിക്കറ്റിന്റെ പൈസ ചോദിച്ചപ്പോൾ ട്രാവൽ ഏജൻസി റീഫണ്ട് തിരിച്ചു തരും എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു.  പിന്നീട് ഒരു I.D. കാർഡ് കൊടുക്കാതെ ഞങ്ങൾ നേപ്പാൾ സന്ദർശിച്ചു തിരിച്ചു വന്നു.  ട്രാവൽ ഏജൻസിയിൽ പരാതി പറഞ്ഞു റീഫണ്ട് അയച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു.  3  മാസം കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ട് കിട്ടാതെ വന്നപ്പോൾ വക്കീൽ നോട്ടീസ് അയച്ചു.  ശരിയായ മറുപടി കിട്ടിയില്ല.  ആയതിനാൽ ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് വന്ന മാനഹാനിയും നഷ്ടം വന്ന തുകയും ടിക്കറ്റിന്റെ 38, 350, ഡൽഹിയിൽ കൂടുതലായി ചിലവായ 41650/- രൂപയും കൂട്ടി ചേർത്തു 81,000 രൂപ നഷ്ടപരിഹാരം എതിർകക്ഷിയിൽ നിന്ന് കിട്ടുന്നതിന് വേണ്ടി അപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നു”.

            It is noted that it cannot be confirmed from the above statement of the complainant that from whom the complainant had purchased ticket for Rs.81000/-

2. Notice

Upon notice from this Commission opposite parties filed version (notice was sent to the opposite parties on 23.11.2019 and version is seen filed on 14.09.2021 and the 2^nd opposite party on 11.10.2021 respectively.

3. Version of the 1^st opposite party

 In the version the opposite party denied all the allegations raised by the complainant stating that the opposite party No.1 ie., Indigo Airlines had not accepted any consideration from the complainant.

The relevant clause of the Indigo CoC dealing with the identification proof and requirement of valid travel documents as a condition precedent for travelling to Nepal, as applicable on the date the booking is reproduced as under:

Booking – General Provisions, Changes and Cancellations General Provisions & Changes and Cancellations….

4.1 General Provisions

The booking (and the resultant PNR generated thereafter) upon receipt of full payment for such booking, constitutes prima facie evidence of the contract of carriage between the Carrier and the Customer named on the Booking.  IndiGO will provide  carriage only to the customer (s) named in the Booking, and appropriate identification proof needs to be produced at the time of travel.

For international travel, the customer’s passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of travel.

For all international flights (except to and from Nepal), the only acceptable proof of identification would be valid passport.  All customers, including children and infants, must present a valid passport and visa (if available) during check-in.  It is the customers’ responsibility to ensure that they have the appropriate travel documents at all times.

For travel to and  from Nepal the following proofs of identification (other than the passport) would be accepted.

• Voter’s ID card issued by the Government of India/Government ID card (for Government Officials) for adults
• Birth Certificate /School ID for children
• Birth Certificate for Infants (Children Below 2 years/24 months as on the date of travel)

*The above is applicable for Indian citizens travelling to and from Nepal,Please ensure that you check the passport/visa requirements and restrictions applicable for citizens belonging to countries other than India”.

Relevant clause of the IndiGo CoC dealing with check-in formalities, being conditions precedent, as applicable on the date of booking of complainant’s ticket is stipulated as under:

Checking_In

Customers shall not be entitled to be carried on an IndiGo flight unless they present a valid itinerary, duly issued in accordance with IndiGo’s regulations.

All customers must ensure that they have valid travel documents as required by the lases of the country of destination.  IndiGo assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the Customers’ travel documents.  Any fines or damages that IndiGo incurs as a result of incomplete or incorrect travel documentation of the customers travelling with us, will be recovered from the concerned customer.

Customers who cannot provide sufficient identification will be denied boarding.

Failure to complete the check in formalities within the stipulated time limit would result in forfeiture of the booking amount.  The booking would be declared a “No show” and the customer would not be entitled to a refund or a credit shell.  However, only the PSF and UDF may be refunded upon request by the customer by writing to IndiGO”.

4. Version of the 2^nd opposite party

The 2^nd opposite party denied the entire allegation and averment contained in the above complaint.  The allegation that the 2^nd opposite party informed the complainant that no visa and passport is required and only Adhar Card is sufficient for the travel is not at all correct.  The complainant approached the 2^nd opposite party only for arranging flight ticket and it was arranged by the opposite party in prompt manner.  The opposite party is no way responsible for the latches happened on the part of the complainant. From the complaint filed by the complainant it can be seen that the present complaint is nothing but an experiment of the complainant to make illegal gain by alleging baseless complaint.  Nothing has been placed by the complainant so as to make a claim of Rs.81,000/- including the amount for the alleged mental agony.  In fact, the 2^nd opposite party are not responsible for the discomfort happened to the complainant, if any. 

5. Evidence

The complainant had produced Exbt.A1 to A4 documents and the opposite parties produced Exbt.B1 to B8 documents.

Exbt.A1 is a copy of payment reference issued by IndiGo Airline for 5 persons for travel form Delhi to Kadmindu on 26.02.2019.  Exbt.A2 is an invoice issued by FIFA tours and travels to Mr.Jemshi fo an amount of Rs.38,350/-.  Exbt.A3 and Exbt.A4 are photographs and the opposite party produced Exbt.B1 to B8 documents

(i)      Whether there is any deficiency in service or unfair trade practice from the side of the opposite parties to the complainants?

ii)       If so, whether the complainants are entitled to get any relief from the side of the opposite parties?

(iii)     Costs of the proceedings if any?

6. Point No(i)

On verification of Exbt.A1 document, it can be seen that it is a copy of ticket issued by the 1^st opposite party to 5 persons where in the name of the complainant is mentioned in it.  The amount paid is not shown in it and in Exbt.A2 which is an invoice issued by FIFA tours and travels in the name of  Mr.Jemshi for an amount of Rs.38,350/- who is neither in the complaint nor shown as a passenger in Exbt.A1 document.  The authority or locus standi of the complainant to file a consumer complaint is also challenged by the opposite party.  Since more than 4 persons involved in the travel wherein the complainant is only one traveller and the ticket is seen issued in favour of someone who is not a traveller or the complainant or in favour of any of the persons whose name is not shown in the ticket.  Besides the question of authority there is no locus standi for the complainant to file this complaint and the complainant do not have the status of a consumer and hence the complaint do not have any merit and therefore the complaint is only to be dismissed.

In this circumstances, there is no merit in the case and the complaint is dismissed with no costs.

      Pronounced in the Open Commission this  3^rd  day of May 2024.

                                                                                       Sd/-

                                                                             V.Ramachandran, Member

                                                                                      Sd/-

                                                                             D.B.Binu, President

                                                                                       Sd/-

                                                                             Sreevidhia.T.N, Member

                                                                             Forwarded by Order

                                                                             Assistant Registrar

APPENDIX

Complainants’ Evidence

Exbt. A1-    

Exbt.A2        

Exbt.A3 -    

Exbt.A4        

Opposite party’s evidence :    Nil

Date of Despatch   :: By Hand   :: By Post