‘Govt must release promised aid’

Coming to Air India’s (AI) rescue, the Bombay High Court observed that the Centre must bail the national airline out of its financial situation.

Coming to Air India’s (AI) rescue, the Bombay High Court observed that the Centre must bail the national airline out of its financial situation.

HT Image

AI had sought Rs 15,000 crore from the Centre to overcome its financial burden. However, the government promised to give only Rs 2,000 crore of which it has released Rs 800 crore.

While hearing a petition filed by the airline’s retired cabin crew, the division bench of justice PB Majmudar and justice Mridula Bhatkar observed that the Centre must release the promised aid.

The cabin crew had filed the petition stating that they have not received arrears of their wage revision for a long time.

The court issued a notice to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and kept the matter for hearing on December 8.

The petitioners have said that the outstanding amount owed to them is Rs 73 crore. However, SK Talsania, counsel for AI, accepted said the amount owed is Rs 9 crore. He said that the airline was facing a severe cash crunch, because of which regular salaries too were delayed by a week to ten days.