The Delhi High Court (DHC) has sharply questioned the central government over the ongoing crisis caused by mass flight cancellations and other operational failures by IndiGo, observing that the disruption has badly affected stranded passengers and risks causing serious damage to the national economy. The Court’s remarks came while hearing a public interest litigation seeking urgent relief for travellers left in limbo across major airports in the country after hundreds of flights were cancelled within days, leading to widespread confusion, financial loss and hardship for thousands of people.
During the hearing, the Court asked pointed questions to the government about how such a crisis could have precipitated despite regulatory mechanisms being in place. The bench asked what measures had been taken by the authorities to anticipate or prevent such a breakdown, and why other airlines were allowed to exploit the crisis to hike fares, thereby burdening consumers. The Court observed that beyond the human suffering caused to stranded travellers — many of whom faced distressing conditions at airports — there was a larger issue of economic fallout due to abrupt interruptions in air travel connectivity.
The PIL before the Court demanded that the government and relevant aviation authorities be directed to ensure timely refunds to affected passengers, adequate ground‑support at airports, and enforce regulations so that airlines cannot arbitrarily cancel flights or charge exorbitant fares in times of crisis. The counsel highlighted that several airports had effectively turned into zones of chaos, with insufficient communication, overcrowding, and lack of basic amenities for passengers. The Court noted that even though the government had issued some directives to deal with the situation, the pleas before it contended those measures were insufficient and urged for stronger judicial intervention to safeguard passenger rights and to uphold accountability.
The Court fixed a date for a detailed hearing of the plea, signaling a willingness to examine not only the immediate hardships faced by individuals but also systemic failures that allowed such disruption. It emphasized that airlines and authorities must not treat mass cancellations and passenger distress as collateral damage, but must act proactively to prevent violations of statutory obligations and safeguard public interest.
The High Court’s intervention underscores the gravity of the ongoing crisis and its broader repercussions: by calling out regulatory and operational lapses, the Court has underscored the need for stronger safeguards in the aviation sector. The petition before the Court remains pending, and its outcome could shape how airlines and regulators address large‑scale disruptions and passengers’ rights going forward.
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