Mohali fines Air India for delayed ticket refund

The Mohali District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has fined Air India Rs 60,500 for delaying a refund on a cancelled ticket. The airline is required to refund Rs 1,12,480 within 30 days, plus 9% interest per year. If the refund is not made on time, the interest rate will rise to 12%. Commission president S K Agarwal and member Paramjit Kaur issued the ruling. They also ordered Air India to pay Rs 30,000 as compensation for mental distress and legal costs. The case was brought by Joginder Kaur, a resident of Mohali. She bought a return ticket from New Delhi to Toronto in March 2021 for Rs 1,79,403. Kaur's lawyers argued that after she cancelled the ticket, Air India failed to give back the full amount. They stated that the airline changed the flight date and number without Kaur's consent. Feeling uncomfortable with the changes, she cancelled the ticket but only received a partial refund. After multiple requests for the remaining amount, Kaur turned to the consumer commission for help. The commission has now ruled that Air India must pay her the owed amount with interest from November 23, 2021.