Supreme Court tells petitioner to avoid flights while refusing urgent hearing on soaring airfares

Court Hearing

The Supreme Court told a petitioner to avoid air travel while refusing an urgent hearing on a plea claiming a nearly 700 percent jump in ticket prices. An advocate mentioned the matter on Monday before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh. When the lawyer argued that flying is an essential service and that such massive price hikes violate Article 14 of the Constitution on equality before law, the bench simply observed that people should not travel by air.

Pending Petitions

The apex court is already reviewing a separate petition from social activist S. Laxminarayanan that demands an independent regulator and clear rules to control unpredictable airfare fluctuations and extra charges by private carriers. During an October 16 hearing on that case, the Centre stated that administrative approval is ready for new rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The court directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to present these rules on the next hearing date of November 16.

Context

Indian courts frequently handle public interest litigation regarding passenger rights and essential services during festive travel rushes. The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, serves as modern legislation designed to update the country's civil aviation framework. Previous hearings in January saw the court label steep festive price increases as exploitation by airlines.