Fare hike during festivals: Supreme Court tells petitioner ‘Don’t travel by air’ as it refuses urgent hearing | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a plea highlighting the exorbitant prices charged by airlines during festivals saying, “Don’t travel by air.” The petition mentioned before Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Aparesh Singh said the petition has been listed for hearing on November 16, which will bring the major festivals including Diwali and Chhath Puja to an end. The complainant therefore insisted on the urgent inclusion of the matter in the list.
“The price in aviation has increased by 700 percent,” said the lawyer.
Justice Nath told the lawyer representing the complainant, “Don’t travel by air” before moving on to the next case.
S Laxminarayanan, a social activist, had filed a plea in the Supreme Court last year alleging that airlines charge high fares during festival seasons.
While hearing the matter in January this year, the apex court termed the high fares charged by airlines as “exploitation” and said: “We will certainly intervene. Just look at the exploitation during Kumbh and other festivals. Just look at the fares from Delhi to Prayagraj and Jodhpur – three times the normal.”
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During the hearing on May 15, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta told the government that there is a need to rationalize the fares.
“Try to give people some relief”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Center and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), informed the court that the government is working on framing rules under the new Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024. However, the bench stressed the need for immediate relief to passengers.
“Try to give people some relief… same day, same sector flights… one airline charges.” ₹8,000, another airline charges ₹18,000 for economy class,” the bench observed.
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In his latest request, Laxminarayanan also cited media reports highlighting how fares on several major domestic routes have already risen to two to seven times their usual levels.
Airlines attributed the rising prices to rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, which affected their operating costs. The application argued that while these factors may warrant a modest increase in ticket prices, they cannot justify raising fares to seven times the normal rate.
“Breach of Article 14”
The defense lawyer said air travel was an essential service and called it a “violation of Article 14”.
Article 14 of the Constitution deals with equality before the law.
“No other essential service is priced in this way. Railways’ flexible fare is capped at one and a half times the basic fare, prices of essential medicines are capped under the Drugs (Price Control) Ordinance, 2013, electricity rates are fixed by regulatory commissions.”
“Air transport cannot be the only exception,” he added.
The plaintiff also pointed out that “air transport is an essential service under the Maintenance of Essential Services Act 1981” and stated: “A service which the State considers essential to ensure its continuity cannot be left entirely unregulated as to its cost, to the detriment of the very public it serves.”
