The Supreme Court on Monday raised concerns over the rampant surges in air ticket prices during festivals and high-demand situations and said that it would interfere with the “unpredictable fluctuations”
in airfares.
A bench comprising of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta called the exorbitant rise of airfares by airlines as “exploitation”.
The bench also asked the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file their replies to a PIL seeking binding regulatory guidelines to control the unpredictable fluctuations in airfare and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines in India.
“We will definitely interfere. Just see the exploitation of passengers done during the ‘Kumbh’ and other festivals. Just look at the fares to Prayagraj and Jodhpur from Delhi,” the bench told Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik appearing for the Centre.
The matter is further listed for hearing on February 23 after Kaushik sought time to file a reply on behalf of the Centre.
The top court had earlier sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan in November last year, seeking a robust and independent regulator that ensures transparency and passenger protection across the civil aviation sector.
In addition to this, it has issued notices to the Centre, the DGCA and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India seeking their responses on the plea.
According to news agency PTI, the plea claimed that all private airlines have, without any credible justification, reduced the free check-in baggage allowance for economy class passengers from 25 kg to 15 kg.
The plea claimed that currently, no authority has the power to review or cap airfares or ancillary fees and this allows the airlines to exploit consumers through hidden charges and unpredictable pricing.
“Unregulated, opaque and exploitative conduct of airlines manifesting in arbitrary fare hikes, unilateral reduction of services, absence of on-ground grievance redressal and unjustified dynamic pricing algorithms directly infringes upon citizens’ fundamental rights to equality, freedom of movement and life with dignity,” the plea stated.
The plea said that the inaction by the state in regulating fare algorithms, cancellation policies, service continuity and grievance mechanisms constitutes a dereliction of its constitutional duty and calls for urgent judicial intervention.
It said there is no rule to stop the airlines from increasing prices based on demand and allowing them such freedom under essential services is unjustifiable.
“Arbitrary fare hikes during emergencies deny vulnerable citizens this right, especially when they are compelled to choose air travel out of necessity rather than luxury,” the plea said
