Indian Airlines sacks overweight air hostess, court asks why?

January 31, 2010

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court issued a notice to Indian Airlines for sacking an air hostess for being overweight.

Indian Airlines had last year terminated the services of Sangita Garb along with 10 other air hostesses, citing they were medically unfit.

Justice SN Aggarwal asked the airline to file their reply by January 22.

Garb, who served the airlines for 25 years, pleaded with the court to set aside the termination order as it violated her fundamental rights.

"The order of dispensing of the services by the authority is without application of mind, illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the services regulations and standing orders and therefore untenable in law or liable to be set aside," her petition contended.

Justifying its action, the airlines had said these air hostesses were sacked as they were declared medically unfit to fly by a medical board and they refused to accept alternative ground jobs offered to them.

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Comments on this Article
Narayan.kumar, manipal	Mon, February-1-2010, 3:51
The airlines may not be faulted for terminating the services of overweight air hostesses because if the appearance of these air hostesses are below the expectation of air travelers in general does affect the particular airlines.
Sahana.John, Bangalore	Mon, February-1-2010, 3:46
Airline should have a clear cut policy for retaining their air hostesses for flight duty which should strike a balance between their appearance and service.
Himesh Poojary, Karwar	Sun, January-31-2010, 8:33
I work as ground staff in an airlines company and would support the decision firing overweight air-hostess beause its not personal but plain business motiv. The industyr itself is witnessing a rough patch and its nfair to say other measures have not been take. From reducing pages of magzines to liht utensils, every option has been tested. If tis can help in turing red figures to gree, so be it!
Rita D’souza, Mangalore	Sun, January-31-2010, 8:15
This is ridiculous.Terminating services basd on ody mass is jus unjustified. Cost cutting can be on other exaggerated expenses rather than targetting at such preposterous issues.

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