The Supreme Court has declined to urgently hear a petition that claims airfares have surged by nearly 700 per cent. The court’s response to the petitioner was succinct, advising, “Don’t travel by air.” This interaction occurred during a session on Monday, where an advocate sought immediate attention to the matter before a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Aparesh Kumar Singh.

The advocate argued that the significant increase in airfares constitutes a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. The claim of a 700 per cent rise in airfares was met with a dismissive response from the bench, highlighting the court’s stance on the urgency of the matter.

Ongoing Regulatory Discussions

In a separate but related context, the Supreme Court is currently considering a petition filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan. This petition calls for the establishment of a robust and independent regulatory authority to ensure transparency and protect passengers within the civil aviation sector.

Laxminarayanan’s plea also addresses the need for regulatory guidelines to manage “unpredictable fluctuations” in airfares, as well as additional charges imposed by private airlines operating in India. During a hearing on this related petition on October 16, the Central Government informed the court that administrative approval had been granted for new rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.

These rules are anticipated to be published within a fortnight, which aims to enhance the regulatory framework governing India’s aviation sector. The court has requested Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to present the published rules under the new legislation at the next hearing scheduled for November 16. The urgency of these developments indicates a growing concern regarding fare regulation and passenger rights in the aviation industry.

Previous Court Interventions

On August 17, the Central Government had previously informed the Supreme Court that it was expediting the formulation of rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam to modernise the aviation sector. The court had initially sought responses from the government and other stakeholders regarding Laxminarayanan’s petition in November of the previous year.

In a hearing held in January, the Supreme Court expressed its willingness to intervene regarding “unpredictable fluctuations” in airfares. The court flagged concerns over steep fare increases during festive seasons, labelling the drastic hikes as “exploitation.” The court directed the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to respond to the issues raised in the petition.

The current situation reflects ongoing challenges within the aviation sector, particularly concerning fare regulation and consumer protection. While the Supreme Court has declined to prioritise the latest plea regarding the alleged 700 per cent rise in airfares, the separate case addressing the regulation of fare fluctuations and passenger rights remains under consideration.

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