In a historic decision The Supreme Court ordered low-cost SpiceJet airline on Thursday to pay a Rs10-lakh compensation to rights activist Jeeja Ghosh, a cerebral palsy patient, for offloading her from a flight in 2012.

The court, in its order, movingly quoted the famed Hellen Keller and said, “Jeeja Ghosh herself is a living example who has, notwithstanding her disability, achieved so much in life by her sheer determination to overcome her disability and become a responsible and valuable citizen of this country. A little care, a little sensitivity and  a little positive attitude on the part of the officials of the airlines would not have resulted in the trauma, pain and suffering that Jeeja Ghosh had to undergo.”

In 2012, SpiceJet’s cabin crew asked Ghosh to de-board after the pilot purportedly said he was not comfortable with the disabled rights activist around. The 40-year-old had boarded the plane in Kolkata and was to visit Goa for a conference. SpiceJet refunded the ticket money after deducting the flight cancellation charges.

SpiceJet claimed Ghosh did not inform the airline about her disability. It told the court that Ghosh’s de-boarding was done for her own safety since blood and froth was oozing from her mouth.

The bench praised Ghosh for her struggle against discrimination and said she achieved much in life by sheer determination to overcome disability.

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