The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the central government as to why the situation that led to the cancellation of a number of IndiGo flights was “accelerated”.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation seeking directions to the Center to provide support and refunds to passengers affected by the cancellation of hundreds of flights by IndiGo.
The Delhi High Court praised the steps taken by the aviation ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to deal with the “crisis” and expressed concern that “lakhs of passengers” were left stranded.
“We appreciate the steps taken by the ministry and the DGCA. However, we are disturbed by how such a situation could have been precipitated; thousands of passengers were stranded at the airports unattended,” the court said under the Live Law.
A government adviser reportedly said that the crisis was precipitated by various non-compliance with the instructions issued by the authorities from time to time, including the flight duty time of the crew members.
The Supreme Court said that apart from the inconvenience and inconvenience to the stranded passengers, it is the loss to the economy.
He said: “Such a situation is not limited to inconvenience to passengers but also affects the economy of the country because nowadays the rapid movement of passengers is an important aspect to keep the economy functioning.”
The DGCA told the court that it has taken all steps to stabilize the situation — including directing IndiGo to cut 10% of its flights, impose price caps and launch an inquiry — while avoiding violent action.
“How could other airlines take advantage of this?”
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela also asked how other airlines can take advantage of the crisis and charge passengers exorbitant amounts for tickets.
The court informed the counsel for the Center and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that the statutory mechanism is fully in place and Indigo has been served with a show cause notice, which has apologized profusely.
Payment of compensation
The Delhi court further expressed concern over the “issue of payment of compensation to passengers” who were “stranded unattended at airports” due to the cancellation of flights last week.
The court is reported to have said, “Our attention is drawn to certain provisions of the circular issued by the DGCA with respect to facilities for passengers on account of denied boarding and cancellation of flights and delays.”
The DGCA said penalties, including cancellation of license, remain available under the law. The court also directed IndiGo to provide compensation to the affected passengers and listed the matter for January 2026.
