Regulation of Airfare charged by airlines: Delhi HC lists PIL for final hearing

While asking the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to identify if there were any other institutions that allowed unregulated pricing, the Delhi High Court today posted public interest litigation seeking to cap the airfare charged by airlines for final hearing..During today’s hearing, a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar enquired,.“Which other institutions are behaving like airlines…encashing the difficulties of the public at large..,encashing situations, that too negative?”.The Court responded to the DGCA’s submission that “economic regulation” of the aviation sector was outside the purview of its power under the Aircrafts Act..Standing Counsel Anjana Gosain stated that the DGCA’s power was limited to the safety and security of the aviation sector and that the power to set the tariff was vested with the airlines..In response, the Court asked what would happen if other institutions and their regulators also toed the same line..“If all institutions (are left to self regulate), what will happen?.. Medical people are doing this? Hospitals?”.Appearing for the petitioner Bejon K Mishra, Advocate Shashank Deo Sudhi argued that left unregulated, the airlines charged an exorbitant amount as airfare under adverse situations..The concern of over-pricing was raised by the petitioner in another PIL on the same issue, advocate Amit Sahni..“During the Jat agitations when the roads and railways were not functioning, the airfare for Delhi to Chandigarh touched Rs 99,000..Same happened during Chennai Floods..,”, it was argued..Sudhi submitted that under such circumstances, the government cannot be expected to be a “mute spectator”. He thus urged the DGCA to take care of the “financial” safety and security as well..Apart from regulating the airfare, petitioner Bejon K Misra also seeks the full refund of airfare to passengers affected by the suspension of Jet Airways..After briefly hearing the parties, the Court listed both the matters for final disposal..The matter will be heard next on November 7.