Dharamshala consumer forum slaps ₹1 lakh fine on Thai airline for ‘keeping kids thirsty’ through 6-hour flight
Commission finds airline guilty of deficiency in service, violation of basic human rights for denying water and rescheduling flight
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission at Dharamshala imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on Thai Lion Air for denying drinking water to a passenger, Tarun Kumar Chaurasia, and his minor children during a six-hour flight from Amritsar to Bangkok. The airline refused to provide water except for purchase in Thai Baht, which the Commission found to be a deficiency in service and a violation of basic human rights.
The Commission, led by President Hemanshu Mishra and Member Arti Sood, also held that the airline’s unilateral flight rescheduling, without prior consent, constituted further deficiency. The complaint was decided ex parte after the airline did not appear despite valid service of notice.
In addition to ₹1 lakh compensation for mental agony, the Commission ordered reimbursement of ₹2,527 for a non-refundable hotel booking, with 9% interest per annum, and ₹10,000 as litigation costs to the complainant.