The Delhi High Court has declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought directions for the Centre and IndiGo airline to pay four times the full ticket price as compensation to passengers impacted by flight cancellations during November and December. The cancellations followed the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, noted that the court had already acknowledged the issue in a separate pending PIL. The bench granted the petitioner the option to intervene in that ongoing case. “We do not see any reason as to why the concerns raised here cannot be taken up in the earlier petition,” the judges stated. They added that the legal framework established by the Supreme Court and High Courts allows for the expansion of public interest petitions.
Justice Upadhyaya stated, “We decline to entertain this petition with liberty to the petitioner to seek intervention in the pending petition. The writ petition stands disposed of,” as the court delivered its order. The PIL was filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), represented by its president, Prof Vikram Singh.
Prof Singh contended that the cancellation of IndiGo flights had raised serious concerns within the aviation industry. According to the plea, the abrupt disruption and last-minute cancellations affected thousands of passengers, causing significant inconvenience.
Advocate Virag Gupta, representing the petitioner, highlighted the chaos at airports during this period. He described how passengers faced misdirected baggage, prolonged delays, and inadequate communication from the airline about refunds and rebooking options. Gupta asserted that these issues contributed to a state of confusion among travellers.
The PIL also called for an independent investigation to be led by a retired judge or the Lokpal to probe alleged negligence and regulatory lapses by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This inquiry aimed to hold accountable those responsible for the crisis.
In a previous hearing on December 10, the Delhi High Court had scrutinized the Central Government’s response to the widespread cancellations. The court questioned why timely measures were not enacted to alleviate the situation, which left countless passengers stranded. They highlighted reports of other airlines charging inflated fares amidst the chaos.
This line of questioning arose during the hearing of another PIL that sought directives compelling the Centre to assist passengers affected by the mass cancellations of IndiGo flights. The court’s concern reflected growing frustration over the fallout from these cancellations.
IndiGo has faced mounting criticism not just from passengers, but also from the government since December 2 for the widespread flight cancellations. The airline attributed these disruptions to regulatory changes in pilot flight duty and rest norms under the revised FDTL framework. Many passengers have expressed their frustration, feeling the financial and emotional burden of last-minute travel disruptions.
As the situation develops, the implications on passenger rights and regulatory oversight continue to be of paramount concern. Stakeholders await further legal developments and potential interventions that could shape the future of airline operations and passenger treatment in India.
