Overweight air hostess move SC against termination of jobs

New Delhi: Air hostess, who were dismissed from service by Air India for being overweight have approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to the airlines to reinstate them.
The airlines had on December last terminated the services of at least 10 air hostesses who were earlier grounded for being overweight.
The air hostesses have contended that action taken against them by the airlines is arbitrary and illegal.
“The matter being subjudice, the airlines whimsically, arbitrarily and discriminatory with malafide intention has taken the drastic steps by removing air hostesses who are employed for last 15 to 25 years,” they said in the petition filed by their counsel Arvind Sharma.
It was further contended in the petition that no mandatory prior notice was served before their dismissal.
Air India, however, at the time of terminating the jobs, had justified its action on the ground that the Delhi High Court had upheld its policy of taking action against overweight air hostesses and the verdict has not been stayed by the apex court.
31/04/09 PTI/The Hindu