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Supreme Court: 'Don't Travel By Air' Amid Fare Surge
2 Nov
Summary
- Supreme Court suggested avoiding air travel due to fare increases.
- A plea highlighted nearly a 700% rise in airfares.
- The court is also considering a separate plea for aviation sector regulation.
The Supreme Court suggested that people refrain from air travel as it declined to urgently hear a plea concerning a drastic increase in airfares. An advocate informed the bench of a nearly 700% surge in airfares, to which the court responded with "Don't travel by air." The advocate argued this was a violation of Article 14, asserting air travel as an essential service.
This situation arises while the apex court is already addressing a separate petition filed last November. This plea seeks the establishment of an independent regulator to ensure transparency and passenger protection within the civil aviation sector. It also calls for regulatory guidelines to manage the unpredictable fluctuations in airfares and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines in India.
In response to the ongoing case, the Centre informed the court on October 16 that administrative approval has been granted for rules under a 2024 legislation designed to regulate India's aviation sector. These rules are expected to be published within two weeks. The court has requested the Solicitor General to present these published rules, under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, on the next hearing date, November 16. Previously, in January, the court had expressed its intention to intervene in unpredictable fare hikes, particularly during festival seasons, calling such exorbitant increases 'exploitation'.
