Madras High Court Slashes Compensation but Raps Air India Over Hair in Meal

The Madras High Court directed Air India to pay ₹35,000 as compensation to a passenger who found a hair in his in-flight meal, reducing the trial court’s ₹1 lakh award.

Justice PB Balaji held the airline negligent and termed its attempt to shift blame to the caterer “mischievous,” and held that once negligence was apparent, the burden shifted to Air India to prove due care.

The Court rejected the airline’s denial of responsibility for food preparation. As the passenger did not appear, the Court reduced damages from ₹11 lakh but ordered Air India to bear suit costs and court fees.

[General Manager, Southern India Region . P Sundarapariporanam]