The Supreme Court has taken a tough stand against rising airfares, arbitrary charges, and lack of transparency. The court has finally taken a major step against the arbitrary airline pricing that has been a burden on passengers for years.
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued notices to the central government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Air Transport Administration (AERA), seeking answers as to why clear rules and an independent regulator have not been established to control airfares in the country.
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Serious questions raised in the petition
A public interest litigation filed by social activist S. Lakshminarayanan alleges that private airlines abruptly raise fares, impose extra charges, and reduce services without transparency, and that complaints often result in inadequate redress. The petition states that this arbitrary behavior by airlines violates the constitutional rights of ordinary citizens, such as equal treatment, freedom of movement, and the right to live with dignity.
The petitioner argued that when essential services like air travel are experiencing persistent disruptions, it is the government’s job to prevent them. However, the government is currently acting indifferently and merely observing. Airlines, with their secret fare pricing practices, lack of strict rules regarding cancellation rules, baggage limits, and complaint resolution, are causing passenger inconvenience and increasing losses.
Air travel becoming a necessity
The petition also states that in many areas, air travel is no longer just a luxury, but the fastest and most practical way to travel. At this time, airlines double and triple fares within minutes to respond to demand. Lakshminarayanan claimed that free check-in baggage has been reduced from 25 kg to 15 kg, a reduction of approximately 40%. This forces passengers to pay extra fees, which has become a new source of revenue for airlines.
Next hearing on December 19
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has scheduled the next hearing for December 19. The court has explicitly asked the central government whether it will formulate clear rules to control air ticket prices and whether a separate, independent regulator is needed.
