Delhi HC asks DGCA to consider Kunal Kamra representation against flight ban within eight weeks

The Delhi High Court today disposed of the petition filed by comedian Kunal Kamra against the flying ban imposed on him, with a direction to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to decide his representation within eight weeks..The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Navin Chawla..Before approaching the High Court, Kamra had filed the representation before the DGCA on February 20..The comedian had posted a video of him confronting journalist Arnab Goswami, with whom he shared an IndiGo flight to Lucknow on January 28..Kamra was subsequently banned from flying IndiGo for six months for being an unruly passenger. He was intimated of the same via a tweet from IndiGo’s handle. Shortly thereafter, other airlines including GoAir, Air India, and Spice Jet, also banned Kamra from flying with them indefinitely..It was Kamra's case that the travel ban imposed on him was in violation of the Civil Aviation Rules. He has contended that a punishment was imposed without following due process, as no Internal Committee was formed and no complaint was made in accordance with the law..The Internal Complaints Committee was subsequently constituted by IndiGo, which is said to have reduced the flying ban to three months with effect from January 28. .Since the order reducing the duration of ban to three months was passed only at 9:30 am in the morning, it was observed that a substantial petition may be filed against the same..Kamra was represented by Senior Advocates Vivek Tankha, Mohit Mathur and Gopal Sankaranarayanan along with Prashant Sivarajan and Ujjawal Anand Sharma. The petition was filed through Lawmen & White..DGCA was represented by Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya and Standing Counsel Anjana Gosain.