Kerala High Court seeks response from Centre, State on plea against exorbitant airfares to Gulf countries

The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought the response of the Central and State governments to a plea challenging the exorbitant airfares for travelling to countries in the middle-east. [Zainul Abideen v Union of India & Ors.]..Justice Devan Ramachandran passed the order while considering the plea filed by a non-resident Indian Zainul Abideen who is the Managing Director of the Safari group of companies which is situated in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company is stated to have over five thousand employees of which over three thousand are Indians including Keralites..The petitioner contended that the unfair air ticket price hikes are unaffordable for the families of many of the employees of his company as well as other expatriates.The rate increases fourfold during festival seasons and expatriates are often unable to meet their families back in Kerala, he added. “The ticket prices have skyrocketed at a time when air travel has become an integral part of most people's lives like never before,” the plea stated.It is contended that while expatriates constantly work hard and contribute to the economic social development of India, the country's commitment and support for expatriates is questionable. “The exorbitant airfares are inhumane, illegal and arbitrary from the part of respondents,” the petitioner argued..The petitioner said that there was no action from the authorities even though he had submitted representations regarding the issue to the Ministry of Civil Aviation as well as the Civil Aviation Authority..Therefore, he approached the High Court seeking directions to the concerned authorities to formulate a set of conditions to determine the price hikes without further delay.He also sought a direction to the Ministry of Civil Aviation as well as the Civil Aviation Authority to consider his representations..The matter will be considered next on October 20..The petitioner was represented by advocates PE Sajal and Ajas KS.