NEW DELHI: A court has
pulled up low cost airline SpiceJet for being "vindictive" towards one
of its former pilots who had filmed a co-pilot smoking in the cockpit
that triggered a national debate.
Additional district judge Ajay
Goel made the observation while deciding SpiceJet Limited's suit against
its former pilot Siddharth Kasana seeking reimbursement of Rs 18.53
lakh as cost incurred by it in training him after he quit from the
service of the airlines before the five-year lock-in period.
"It
seems the plaintiff (SpiceJet) became vindictive towards the defendant
(Kasana) because of the misconduct of another pilot which created
national debate and outrage on the conduct of the pilot caught smoking
while flying the aircraft which also resulted in diminishing their
reputation whereby they were bent upon destroying the career of the
defendant," he said.
The airline had alleged that Kasana left the
job before the lock-in period and the check given by him as security at
the time of his appointment in 2006 was dishonored.
Kasana on
the other hand claimed that he was forced to resign as he had filmed his
co-pilot smoking in the cockpit and sparked a debate over the issue.
The court noted Kasana was willing to work with the firm but was forced
to resign as his video of a co-pilot smoking in the cockpit had
diminished its reputation.
In his reply to the averments made by
SpiceJet, Kasana had filed a CD of a news telecast showing the video
made by him of his senior co-pilot smoking on board the flight. After
watching the video, the court said, "It is very strange that plaintiff
(SpiceJet) never took any decision against pilot who was smoking in the
cockpit and made defendant (Kasana) a scapegoat. It is a shame on the
part of the airline that instead of taking prompt action against the
errant pilot, they were more interested in saving their reputation and
fame keeping the lives of passengers at stake. If the defendant had
dared to use mobile, it was for the benefit of passengers and to expose
the irrational behavior of the pilot on board," it said.
While
deciding the matter against SpiceJet, the court also questioned as to
"how did the pilot manage to have cigarettes and lighter in the cockpit
by giving slip to the security personnel".
The court directed the
DGCA, Civil Aviation Ministry to look into the matter and apprise it of
action taken in the matter against Banerjee within a month.
Story and reaction/comments: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
SpiceJet: http://www.spicejet.com
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