The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern directive to the Central government, ordering it to ground airlines that do not adhere to established airfare norms. The court expressed significant concern over the arbitrary and often exorbitant increase in ticket prices, particularly during high-demand periods such as festivals and holidays.
Court Demands Strict Compliance on Airfare Regulation
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta emphasized that stringent action would be taken against private carriers failing to comply with regulatory standards. This directive came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the alleged unchecked fixing of fares by private airlines.
Social activist S. Lakshmi Narayanan filed the plea, asserting that airlines frequently charged excessive fares and ignored existing government guidelines on pricing. The petitioner highlighted that air travel often serves as the only viable quick transport for individuals in remote regions, making unchecked pricing practices exploitative.
Centre Prepares New Regulatory Mechanism
In response, Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik informed the Supreme Court that the Centre is in the final stages of framing a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for airfares. He assured the court that the new rules would be finalized and submitted within three weeks, providing a draft of the proposed regulations in a sealed cover.
The court accepted the government's request for additional time, scheduling the next hearing for September 7. Until the final rules are enacted, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been issuing office memorandums to airlines concerning pricing. However, the petitioner argued that these directives are largely disregarded by carriers.
“The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to ground airlines if they do not comply with its orders on airfares in India. The court expressed concern over the unchecked rise in ticket prices during peak travel periods.”
Previous hearings saw the Supreme Court advocating for the rationalization of airfares and urging the Centre to provide relief to passengers. The court previously noted significant inconsistencies, with airlines often charging vastly different fares for the same route on the same day, raising questions about pricing transparency and fairness.
Addressing Unfair Practices and Passenger Rights
The PIL also pointed out that opaque airline practices, including sudden fare increases, reduced services, inadequate grievance redressal, and algorithm-driven pricing, infringe upon citizens' fundamental rights. The petitioner argued that the government's inaction in regulating these aspects amounted to a dereliction of its constitutional duty.
The upcoming hearing on September 7 will be crucial, as the Centre is expected to present its finalized rules for airline airfare regulation, aiming to bring much-needed clarity and fairness to the sector.