Air-India has grounded four women cabin crew members after their quarterly weight checks. They were found to be overweight by 20 kg, 15 kg, 2 kg and 18 kg.

India's national air carrier has, however, permitted 17 male cabin crew members who were overweight by between 19 kg and 40 kg to continue flying.

One of these women staffers was a borderline case since she was overweight by 2 kg.

But A-I executives deny that the airline is discriminating against women.

A-I spokesperson Jitendra Bhargava says: "This is not a case of discrimination. There are two different working conditions for men and women. This is evident from the fact that women retire at 58 while their male counterparts retire at 60. The parameter is fitness, not weight."

Weight is not the sole criterion for being declared unfit, he says. However, a 1995 notification on the basis of which the weight checks are conducted (a copy of which Business Standard has) makes no such distinction between male and female cabin crew personnel.

It states: "It has been decided to commence weight checks for cabin crew with effect from November 1, 1995....All cabin crew are required to adhere to the guidelines of ideal weight as per the chart. Eight per cent grace will be permissible over and above the ideal weight shown in the weight chart."

"After a period of seven months if the concerned cabin crew still continue to be overweight, then the management may take the cabin crew off flying duties and give them a maximum of six months to reduce his/her weight," the notification states.

In line with this notification, the 17 male cabin crew who were repeatedly found to be overweight during checks conducted in June 2002 and March 2003 should automatically have been taken off flying duties.

The four grounded women cabin crew personnel also have to contend with different yardsticks being employed for women.

A July 1, 2003 letter written by the medical department to the AI management (letter no: AI/medical/7-4) declared five other women air hostesses fit except for being overweight after the periodical medical examinations.