The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a public interest litigation filed on behalf of passengers impacted by the widespread flight cancellations and operational disruptions at IndiGo. The plea seeks orders for both ground support and refunds to stranded travellers. The case was mentioned before a Division Bench, which accepted the petition for urgent hearing and scheduled it for December 10.
According to the petition, many passengers have been left stranded at various airports, facing severe hardships due to cancellations, delays, and lack of basic assistance. The petitioners argue that despite the ongoing disruption, there has been no adequate system in place for refunds or relief; many continue to await reimbursement, while others lack accommodations, transfers, or support for baggage and logistics.
The Court, while noting that the government has already intervened and issued certain directions in response to the crisis, agreed to list the PIL for hearing to examine whether further judicial intervention is necessary to safeguard passenger rights.
In response to the disruption, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued directives requiring IndiGo to clear all pending refunds for cancelled or disrupted flights by a specified deadline. The Ministry also instructed the airline to waive any rescheduling charges for affected passengers, set up dedicated support and refund cells, and ensure delivery of delayed or misplaced baggage within 48 hours. Airlines were warned that failure to comply would attract regulatory action.
IndiGo, in turn, announced that it would offer automatic refunds for all cancelled bookings and waive cancellation or rescheduling fees for travel during the affected period. The airline publicly apologized for the disruption and committed to providing alternate flights, refunds, and assistance for inconvenienced passengers.
Despite these administrative and regulatory steps, the petitioners maintain that many passengers continue to face hardships, including lack of clarity on refund status, accommodation issues, and logistical chaos at airports. The PIL thus seeks comprehensive orders mandating ground-level support, facilitation of timely refunds, and systemic safeguards to prevent similar failures in the future. The Court’s upcoming hearing will examine whether the relief currently made available is adequate and whether broader judicial directives are required to uphold passenger rights amid the ongoing crisis.
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