The complainant, Soimex International (P) Limited, had entered an agreement in 1996 with a Middle-East company, Al Khwaja, for delivering a consignment comprising 43 bales of fabric.
But the complainant suffered losses after most of the cotton bales were damaged at Mumbai airport after the carrier chose to break the journey from Delhi to Dubai in the process of completing the assignment.
"If the carrier had chosen to break the journey after airlifting the consignment..., any loss caused to it at Bombay airport will have to be borne by Air India International," the Commission, comprising Members Justice K S Gupta and Rajyalakshmi Rao, said.
The manufacturer approached the Commission, seeking Rs 38.50 lakh compensation for the loss of business and reputation by the carrier's deficiency in service.
The carrier alleged that the Airports Authority of India, Mumbai was liable for the damage to the consignment as the bales were lying under its custody.
The Commission cited the condition which attributed responsibility on the carrier to deliver the complete consignment to the destination.
PTI/Economic Times
