Thai Airways International Ltd to pay over Rs 11 L to exporter

Thai Airways International Limited has been directed to pay over Rs 11 lakh to an export firm by the apex consumer commission which held the carrier guilty of "deficiency" in service while delivering goods in Myanmar in 2008.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) bench, presided by Justice V K Jain, directed the carrier to pay the amount to Delhi-based Space Overseas Pvt Ltd while allowing an appeal filed by the export firm against the Delhi State Consumer Commission's order.
"...Therefore, the carrier, Thai Airways International Ltd. Is guilty of deficiency in providing services by handing over the airway bills to M/s 7-star Co. Ltd (agent for the buyer)," the NCDRC bench said.

"...The carrier Thai Airways International Ltd is directed to pay a sum of Rs 9,50,752 towards the principal sum and Rs 1,52,120 as interest...To complainant (export firm)," it said.
The bench also dismissed the appeal filed by the carrier against the order of the state commission.
The state consumer commission had earlier awarded Rs 50,000 as compensation to the export firm while holding that the carrier had been negligent by not taking due care and had caused financial losses to the exporter.

Aggrieved by the amount of compensation granted by the state commission, the exporter approached the NCDRC.
The firm told the apex consumer commission that in 2008, it had handed over 18,872 Kgs of cotton knitted fabric to the airlines for delivering it in Myanmar.

The goods were consigned by exporter to Malayan Banking Berhad and not to the purchaser, the firm said, adding that four airways bills were issued to the complainant in respect of the goods.
According to the firm, the goods were to be delivered by the carrier only on presentation of the original documents by the buyer who could have obtained them from the collecting bank after depositing with it the price of the goods.