KOCHI: The Air India Ltd has approached the Kerala High Court challenging a Single Judge order quashing the transfer of an Air India employee allegedly targeted for being a whistleblower. AI officer apron at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport L S Sibu was transferred to Hyderabad. The court will consider the appeal on Thursday.In the appeal, Air India submitted the Single Judge merely went through the files produced at the time of arguments and held the transfer was punitive in nature. The finding of the Single Judge is contrary to law, facts and circumstances of the case.
The Single Judge had observed transfer was punitive and not for any administrative exigencies. Sibu was transferred based on a sexual harassment complaint by Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd (AISATS) Association which was signed by 17 female staff. Meanwhile, the police had filed a report stating the alleged complaint was fabricated and it was given by impersonated persons.
The report had stated measures by the internal complaints committee of Air India in the inquiry into the complaint against Sibu were also suspicious especially in a situation where the complainant had earlier filed frequent complaints before the higher-ups and CBI regarding the alleged huge financial fraud and corruption by AISATS.However, in the appeal, Air India made it clear transfer is a condition of service and there is no alteration in the condition of the workman. Sibu was transferred due to exigencies of service, it said.