Photo Courtesy: nenow
Agartala: The Tripura Human Rights Commission is demanding answers from Air India Express and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Justice Arindam Lodh, head of the panel, issued formal notices following a complaint from Captain Partha Bhowmik. The commission wants responses from the Union of India, the DGCA, and the airline's CEO and COO by September 2, 2026.
Bhowmik claims he joined Air India Express after working at Vistara during the Tata Group restructuring. He says the airline broke promises regarding a Kolkata posting and a promotion. The pilot alleges he went without pay from October 11, 2023, until his termination on June 22, 2026. The airline fired him without notice. Adding to the mess, the company withheld his No Objection Certificate and service records. This prevents him from landing another job.
He is struggling. Bhowmik says the financial fallout forced him to mortgage gold and default on his loans. The situation turned personal when his mother fell ill. The airline cut off his corporate medical benefits shortly after his termination, leaving his 78-year-old mother in a precarious position after she entered an intensive care unit on June 26, 2026.
Bhowmik points to a Group Seniority List introduced in August 2024 as the main reason his career prospects stalled. He wants justice. The complaint demands Rs 2.44 crore in back pay and Rs 1 crore for psychological harassment. His petition states, "The commission observed that the allegations raised issues relating to the complainant’s service conditions, salary, career progression and the withdrawal of medical benefits after the merger." The commission sees a clear case for investigation.
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