New Delhi, July 13: The central government has been given fourteen days to produce the regulatory rules attached to the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, following a Supreme Court order focused on consumer rights in civil aviation. The apex court’s order aims to establish transparency and establish robust safeguards against hidden airline costs and baggage fee adjustments.
The legal case stems from public grievances regarding the absence of an independent administrative body capable of regulating fluctuating ticket prices during peak travel periods. Government representatives informed the court that the comprehensive draft framework is fully finalized but requires final translation work before being introduced to lawmakers.
Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta maintained that the court requires immediate access to the text to verify the inclusion of consumer safety nets. “We grant two weeks’ time to the respondents to place before this court in a sealed cover the rules which have been framed, irrespective of the fact whether they are placed before the Houses of Parliament,” the bench affirmed.
The legal challenge, brought forward by activist S Laxminarayanan, asserts that current operational loopholes leave flyers vulnerable to sudden fee hikes and reduced service standard packages. Senior advocates involved in the matter asserted that independent oversight mechanisms are essential to prevent private entities from exploiting passengers, urging the apex court to evaluate the state’s proposed modernizing policies ahead of the upcoming legislative session.
