You'll be mistaken as a hijacker, Air India (then Indian Airlines) had told flight purser Victor Joynath De while asking him to snip off his handlebar moustache in 1998.
When he refused to trim his moustache which he considers his 'pride', 62-year-old Victor was forced to take compulsory retirement as an assistant manager of Indian Airlines, in 2001.
Now, he is seeking a hefty compensation for all the 'trauma and mental agony' he has undergone for a decade.
"It should be in lakhs," Victor told PTI over telephone from his hometown Kolkata, but was unwilling to specify the figure.
"If Sikhs are allowed to keep beard, why can't I sport a moustache? This is a discrepancy in the service manual. I had the moustache when I joined the service as a flight steward in 1968.
"I was born in Kolkata but brought up in Benaras where sporting a moustache is a matter of pride and respect. I can't compromise with my pride whatever it comes to. I have complete faith in judiciary," he said, hoping to come out victorious against his former employer.
Victor's case is currently with the Supreme Court which has expressed surprise over the airlines' action.
"How can a person with a moustache be removed? This is a democratic country," the apex court observed, while issuing notices to the central government and Air India whose own mascot, Maharaja, is a proud owner of a handlebar moustache.
In fact, when Victor had initially objected to the airlines' directive, he was "stunned" by the response: "You will be mistaken for a hijacker with such a huge and repulsive moustache."
The story dates back to December 1998 when Indian Airlines cited its manual on crew conduct and general obligation to discipline the 'errant' steward. The company asked him to neatly trim the moustache or risk action. The manual specifies a grooming code for cabin crew.
Among others, it requires stewards, except Sikhs, to maintain a cleanshaven demeanour. Those who sported a moustache were required to keep it trimmed. Sideburns were a strict no-no.
Though copies of the manual were circulated to all cabin crew, Victor ignored it and continued to twirl his moustache, inviting action. On January 15, 1999, he was grounded, resulting in a cut in flying allowances.
In fact, he had moved the Calcutta high court immediately after his compulsory retirement. Initially, a single bench judge had quashed Indian Airlines' order. But, subsequently a division bench of the same court upheld the company's decision.
But, Victor refused to give in and challenged the decision in the Supreme Court with a hope that at least the country's highest court would come to his rescue.
He claimed that the secret to his long legalbattle was constant encouragement from his family -- his wife Chanda De, a former Air Hostess and his son Lionel currently pursuing a degree in engineering at Manipal University. "They are my inspiration and have been very supportive."
Asked whether he had thought of going for an out of court settlement, Victor said the management had earlier
refused to do so. "That is why I moved the court."
"I have already spent Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million) as legal costs," rued Victor but is determined to fight it out. "I have not committed any crime to be penalised like this."
