New Delhi, May 16: Air France lost a baggage and KLM royal Dutch Airlines delivered another in damaged condition in separate incidents. Both international carriers were found guilty of deficiency in service by a consumer court here, which ordered them to compensate the aggrieved Indian passengers. Complainant G D Sharma - secretary, university grants commission - alleged that Air France did not hand over his baggage after he arrived at New Delhi by its flight in August 1998 and claimed Rs 88,700 for the same.

New Delhi district consumer disputes redressal forum president L C Jain, members Janak Juneja and R Narayana noted in their order that Air France, by paying 170 Singapore dollars was not absolved of its liability. The weight of the lost baggage was assessed as 20 kg and by provisions of carriage by air act, Air France was liable to make payment of 20 dollars per kg, the forum held.
As the international carrier had already paid Rs 10,230, the same can be deducted from the compensation amount of 400 dollars, it said, and directed the French carrier to give the passenger a litigation cost of Rs 5,000.

In another case, complainant Alok Agarwal, a resident of Maharani Bagh in South Delhi, alleged that Dutch Airlines delivered his baggage after a delay of over 40 days on March 13, 1997 and that too in a damaged condition.
The consumer court, which held the Dutch Airlines guilty of deficiency in service, directed it to pay 75 dollars alongwith Rs 5,000 for the delay besides a litigation cost of Rs 5,000. Bureau Report