Kochi: An airline was directed to pay a compensation of Rs 7.25 lakh for imposing travel restrictions on a Malayali family by the Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. 

The Commission has ordered the Malindo Airline to pay compensation for the incident in which a Malayali family leaving for Singapore to celebrate their son's seventh birthday was stopped midway.

The family of seven, comprising C A Majeed, a lawyer based in Kochi, his wife, children and 70-year-old mother, had booked the tickets through a travel agency. When they reached Kuala Lumpur by flight from Kochi, the airlines denied Majeed’s wife a flight to Singapore. The reason given was that the validity of her passport would expire within six months. The fact of having a visa and a currently valid passport was pointed out but was not considered. Following this, the airline also canceled the tickets of other passengers in the group.

Majeed’s wife passed out. However, she was not given a proper place to rest. After lengthy discussions involving senior officials, the authorities agreed that the travel restriction was a mistake. The group was brought to Singapore on another flight very late. However, in the meantime, the luggage dropped off at Kuala Lumpur went missing. Due to the non-availability of essential commodities, new ones were forced to be purchased at a high cost. According to the complaint filed by Majeed, the plan to spend four days in Singapore had to be reduced to two days.

The Commission observed in the order that the airline has admitted in writing that it had made a mistake in restricting the trip. The commission stated that the mental stress and physical hardship experienced by the family consisting of a senior citizen and children cannot be ignored. It is proposed to pay Rs 1 lakh each to the seven persons and Rs 25,000 as court costs.