Fri Oct 24 18:11:45 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, written in a style appropriate for a news publication like The Hindu, with a focus on the Indian perspective:

Summary:

In a significant ruling for consumer rights, an Indian consumer forum has ordered Gulf Air to pay ₹1 lakh in compensation to former MLA Nizamudeen after he was wrongly denied boarding on a flight from Moscow to Dubai in 2023. The airline cited UAE’s “single-name” passport regulations, despite Nizamudeen possessing a valid visa. The forum found Gulf Air guilty of deficiency in service, noting that other airlines permitted travel with single-name passports and visas, and that Gulf Air had initially issued the ticket. The airline must also refund the ticket cost with interest and cover litigation costs.

News Article:

Indian Consumer Forum Slams Gulf Air Over Passport Issue, Awards ₹1 Lakh Compensation

Chennai, October 24, 2025 (The Hindu): A consumer forum in India has delivered a stinging rebuke to Gulf Air, ordering the airline to pay ₹1 lakh in compensation to Nizamudeen, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly and advocate of the Madras High Court, for “deficiency in service.” The ruling stems from an incident in February 2023, where Nizamudeen was denied boarding on a Gulf Air flight from Moscow to Dubai due to a perceived issue with his passport, which only featured a single name.

According to the complaint, Nizamudeen held a confirmed ticket with Gulf Air for a flight from Moscow to Dubai, transiting through Bahrain. However, at Moscow airport, Gulf Air staff refused to issue a boarding pass, citing a UAE government advisory from November 2022 regarding passengers with single-word names being classified as “inadmissible passengers” (INAD). Despite possessing a valid UAE visa issued under the same single name, Nizamudeen was barred from boarding.

Nizamudeen was forced to book a flight with another airline, which allowed him to travel to Sharjah without any issues, despite using the same passport and visa. He argued that the delay caused significant inconvenience and financial loss as he missed a crucial meeting in Dubai.

Gulf Air, in its defence, claimed compliance with UAE government regulations. However, the District Consumer Redressal Forum (North), headed by D. Gopinath, dismissed this argument. The forum highlighted that other airlines, including Air India, had issued revised guidelines permitting travel with single-name passports if travelers held valid visas. Critically, the forum also noted that Gulf Air itself had initially issued the ticket in Nizamudeen’s name.

The forum concluded that Gulf Air was guilty of a deficiency in service. It ordered the airline to refund the ticket cost of ₹29,689 with 9% annual interest from February 9, 2023, until realization. In addition, the airline was instructed to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation for mental agony and monetary loss, and ₹10,000 towards litigation costs. The total amount of ₹1.10 lakh must be paid within two months of the order, with a penalty of 9% annual interest for any delay.

This ruling sets an important precedent for Indian travelers facing similar issues and underscores the responsibility of airlines to act reasonably and consistently, particularly regarding immigration policies. The case highlights the potential for Indian consumer forums to hold international companies accountable for deficiencies in service that impact Indian citizens.

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