The Delhi High Court declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding higher compensation for passengers impacted by IndiGo’s flight cancellations. The court ruled on Wednesday that the petition sought excessively high claims without addressing ongoing litigation on the same issue.
The Division Bench, consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, noted the court had already acknowledged similar concerns in a pending PIL. The Bench stated, “We do not see any reason as to why the concerns raised here cannot be taken up in the earlier petition.” This ruling underscores the High Court’s approach to managing multiple petitions that address similar public interests.
The PIL was filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), represented by its president, Prof Vikram Singh. The case arose in light of widespread cancellations occurring in November and December, following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. Singh argued that the airline’s actions sparked a significant crisis in the aviation sector, stranding countless passengers.
Advocate Virag Gupta, representing the petitioner, elaborated on the chaotic scenes at airports, highlighting misdirected baggage and extensive delays. Gupta stated, “The airline offered inadequate communication regarding refunds and re-booking options, compounding the confusion.” Passengers faced a litany of woes due to last-minute cancellations, leading to a groundswell of discontent amongst travelers.
The PIL also called for an independent inquiry involving a retired judge or the Lokpal to assess potential negligence and shortcomings by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in handling the crisis, emphasizing the need for accountability in the aviation sector.
On December 10, the Delhi High Court had already scrutinized the Central Government’s inaction amid the crisis arising from IndiGo’s extensive flight cancellations. The court questioned the government on its failure to act quickly, which left lakhs of passengers stranded while airlines exploited the situation by charging inflated fares.
Previously, in another PIL, the High Court had urged the Centre to assist and refund passengers adversely affected by hundreds of IndiGo flight cancellations. The court’s statements highlighted the urgent need for improvements in the aviation regulatory framework to prevent such occurrences in the future.
IndiGo has incurred extensive criticism from both the government and aggrieved passengers since December 2, when it began cancelling numerous flights. The airline attributed these disruptions to regulatory changes concerning pilots’ flight duty timing and rest periods under the revised FDTL regulations.
This latest ruling reinforces the ongoing dialogue about passenger rights and accountability within the Indian aviation industry. The impact of these flight cancellations has provoked further investigation and scrutiny of regulations governing airline operations in India.
