In a landmark order, the Jammu and Kashmir Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, headed by Justice (retired) G D Sharma, directed the state Tourism Development Corporation to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to a family for undergoing mental, physical, emotional and financial suffering during their pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine.

Satish Sethi, a chartered accountant, in his complaint to the Commission submitted that he, along with his wife Sangita and two sons, had purchased tickets for a helicopter ride from Baltal to the Amarnath shrine at Rs 40,000 for to and fro journey on June 27, 2005. Though they reported at the helipad on time — at 6 am — they were forced to wait till 10:50 am when the flight took off. When the family returned to board the chopper ahead of their deadline, they were told to wait for the next sortie, which never materialised. The family subsequently got segregated and faced many hardships on their return journey on foot. Pointing out that no ponywalla agreed to ferry him as he was overweight, Sethi said his wife, an asthmatic, was physically unprepared for the journey. Sethi had also filed an FIR at Kangan police station. He said his family members had to resort to begging after getting separated.

The Commission directed the Corporation to return the balance amount, along with interest at 8 per cent. The Corporation was directed by Justice Sharma to pay litigation expenses to the tune of Rs 10,000 to Sethi.