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karatecatman · Guest

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Assistant-SG-wants-free-luxury-service-for-sister-on-Qantas/articleshow/4278498.cms

Assistant SG wants free luxury service for sister on Qantas
18 Mar 2009
Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN

NEW DELHI: Not the least deterred by the thought that he may be misusing his official position, a law officer in Ahmedabad not only asked for an upgrade and preferential treatment for his sister travelling on Qantas from Mumbai to Sydney, he even put down the "request" in writing.

Assistant solicitor general Dhaval G Nanavati, a law officer working for the UPA government in Ahmedabad, wanted his sister, who is scheduled to fly Qantas (flight No. QF124) from Mumbai to Sydney on March 27, to have a comfortable journey on the long flight to Australia, where she is migrating permanently.

He shot off an official letter to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asking it to "instruct and request" Jet Airways and Qantas Airlines (who have a tie-up) to allow his sister to carry excess baggage without charge, a free upgrade to business class, provision of special courtesies so that she does not face any inconvenience and to treat her as `Commercially Important Person' (CIP).

What is also surprising is that DGCA even forwarded the letter to the carriers. Nanavati was not satisfied with just shooting off the letter, which came after his discussion with DGCA officials, but wanted the `Qantas people' to send him a confirmation about the arrangements that he had sought.

The unusual letter has left Qantas and Jet Airways officials perplexed and annoyed, but they are not willing to stick their neck out by reacting to such a letter despite knowing that in the hierarchy of the Centre's legal officers, Nanavati comes rather low.

Nanavati's letter, addressed to Dr S N A Zaidi, director general, DGCA, makes interesting reading as it gives an insight into the extent to which officials flex their muscles.

"You (DGCA) are therefore advised to kindly instruct and request the concerned senior management of Jet Airways and Qantas Airlines (as they have tie-up) to grant and accord permission and permit her to carry luggage weight of 50 kg as check-in baggage instead of normal weight of 40 kg and also allow her to carry luggage upto 10 kg as hand luggage as a special case as she is permanently migrating to Sydney," it said.

"And also provide all the special curtsy (sic) and facilities to my sister on board so that no inconvenience is caused to her in flight on March 27, 2009," the letter said.

It did not stop there. "You are further requested to kindly instruct the concerned Qantas Airlines senior authority to put strong recommendation to the administrative/commercial/ground handling staff to provide complimentary upgrade in business class to my sister from Mumbai to Sydney and also provide all the special curtsy (sic) and facilities to my sister at airport and treat her as Commercially Important Person," Nanavati said, enclosing a copy of her e-ticket with his letter. And he wanted a confirmation from `Qantas people' about provisions for the facilities he had requested.

flightgearpilot · Member Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 711 Location: VOBL

There are many more in the wood works waiting to crawl out like this. Unless passionate people -- many who are on this forum -- realize that it is up to themselves to do something about such attitudes.

I remember about a decade ago when we had brought a major international conference to India. This conference is very competitive and it is very difficult to get one's paper published here. But then, after more than a month after the paper submission deadline, we get a shoddily typed out paper from a government official, instructing us to "accept" the paper and that he will send a more detailed version of the paper in about 2-weeks time.

Huh? Shocked

con spirito · Member Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 577 Location: Inflight

Thanks for posting this article and making us aware KCM.
_________________
India is one of the richest countries in the world.
The only problem is........all the wealth is distributed in the wrong hands.

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

But the problem is the person who wrote the letter is not migrating, yet. The sister who migrated to Australia will learn quickly about asking for favors she does not deserve.