After a 15-year legal battle, the Bombay High Court gave justice to Air India pilot Kabir Kapoor. The court has ordered immediate restoration of his license which was illegally canceled by DGCA.
Mumbai: Air India pilot Captain Kabir Kapoor, who was fighting for justice for 15 years after being trapped in a false case, has finally got justice through a historic decision of the Bombay High Court. The court has ordered the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately reinstate his pilot license. After the verdict, Kabir Kapoor said emotionally, “In these 15 years, I lost my career, marriage and respect. But finally, I have got my lost respect back.”
This entire incident took place in October 2009, when Captain Kapoor was flying an Air India Express flight from Dubai to Mumbai. He got into an argument with an air hostess in the cockpit of the plane, after which the air hostess accused him of sexual harassment. However, during investigation this allegation was proved to be false.
But, after this controversy, DGCA imposed a new charge on him of ‘endangering the safety of the aircraft’ and canceled his pilot license forever. As soon as the license was cancelled, Air India fired him. Fighting the legal battle, he lost all his savings and got into serious financial trouble. This controversy and the devastation of his career also affected his married life and ultimately his marriage also broke. Society and friends also distanced themselves from him.
Bombay High Court considered the action of DGCA as completely arbitrary and illegal. Justice A.S. Chandurkar and G.A. The SC bench clearly said that DGCA does not have the legal authority to give such severe punishment as canceling the license of a pilot forever for indiscipline. The court also said that this was a gross violation of natural justice, as the pilot’s career was ended without giving him a fair opportunity to present his case.
He has got his license back after 15 years, but due to not flying for so long, Kapoor will now have to undergo rigorous re-training procedures and flight tests. Nevertheless, he is relieved that the stain on his name has now been washed away and he can live with his head held high again.