Kingfisher Airlines captain moves HC for unpaid salary

A captain of Kingfisher Airlines has moved the Delhi High Court, seeking recovery of around Rs. 31 lakh, his outstanding salary for five months from the grounded airline.

Sanjeev Kumar Ahuja has filed the case against defunct Kingfisher Airlines saying 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.

Ahuja's advocate M.K. Ghosh said Ahuja, who joined Kingfisher Oct 9, 2008, was appointed as captain on the Airbus 320 aircraft in the operations department based at 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 on July 31, 2012.

Ahuja worked till July, 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 airlines has failed and neglected to make the outstanding payment, which is due and payable to the him.

"The plaintiff (Ahuja) has waited substantially for a long period. However, till date no action has been taken by the defendant in releasing the payment to the plaintiff," said the plea.