Consumer forum frowns as ex-babu hankers for varied snacks

Refusing to hold Air France guilty of rendering deficient service for its failure to provide sufficient varieties of snacks, the forum ticked off retired bureaucrat B K Saha saying it is not befitting a senior IAS officer to behave in such a manner.

"In our view, the lack of comfort is no part of deficiency. The complainant (Saha) appears to portray himself to be hyper sensitive towards his comforts, which does not behove a senior IAS officer who is supposed to know ground realities in governance and lack of control by government authorities on private airlines," said the New Delhi District Consumer Forum.

"We do not find sufficient reasons to hold (the airline) guilty of deficiency on the feelings of a super sensitive retired bureaucrat. We are of opinion there is no deficiency on the part of opposite party (Air France)," said the forum's President C K Chaturvedi, dismissing Saha's complaint.

In his complaint, Saha had made several allegations against Air France, including inadequate arrangements, lack of variety in snacks available at the lounge for business class passengers, uncomfortable seat during his travel from Delhi to Paris in March 2005 in the airlines' business class.

The Delhi resident had sought damages of 750 euros (Rs 4,35,000 approx) and cost of litigation.

The airline in its defence had contended that complaint was not maintainable as non-bodily injuries, mental agony, harassment and suffering cannot be compensated under the provision of the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.