Delhi HC directs Kingfisher to pay outstanding salaries to 3 of its pilots

The Delhi High Court has directed the grounded Kingfisher Airlines to pay the outstanding salaries of three of its ex-pilots who had moved the court over non-payment of salaries.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw disposed off the case while asking the company to pay the salaries with 10% interest till the month salaries are due.

Captain Sanjeev Kumar Ahuja had filed the case against Kingfisher Airlines seeking recovery of around Rs.26 lakh, his outstanding salary for five months from the airline.

Moving the court through advocate M.K. Ghosh, Ahuja said that because of the insecure financial environment, he had to undergo a lot of hardships and liquidate all his assets to support his family.

The private airline has been grounded since October 2012.

Justice Endlaw asked Kingfisher Airlines to pay Rs.25,37,500 to Ahuja with 10% interest. Along with Ahuja, the court also allowed the plea of Captain Aaditya Jugal Garg and Captain Amar Bhatia to get their outstanding salaries.

Ahuja, who joined Kingfisher Oct 9, 2008, was appointed captain of an Airbus 320 aircraft in the operations department based in New Delhi with a salary of Rs.4.3 lakh per month.

On Feb 1, 2012, Ahuja submitted his resignation which was duly accepted by the airlines, which also informed him that he was required to give a notice period of at least six months and would be relieved from his duties July 31, 2012.

Ahuja worked till July, and was thereafter relieved but was not paid his salary from March to July 2012.

Seeking his five months salary with interest, the captain said that despite various oral as well as written reminders and personal visits, the airline has failed and neglected to make the outstanding payment, which is due and payable to him.