The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to periodically review its guidelines regarding wearing of face-masks on flights and to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Central government..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said that it was not the Court's job to issue directions to DGCA regarding COVID-19 norms as the same falls within the domain of the government.The Bench added that pandemic situation in the country has improved and very few cases are now being reported."We are not experts on the subject. The government of India and ICMR is... The DGCA will look into this and pass appropriate orders," the Court remarked..The Court was dealing with a suo motu petition initiated by Justice C Hari Shankar in March last year regarding non-adherence by air passengers to COVID-19 protocol, including social distancing norms and wearing masks.Earlier, counsel appearing for the DGCA had informed the Court that action was taken against several errant and unruly passengers who were not wearing masks on flights.While hearing the petition last month, a Bench headed by then Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi had asked the DGCA to issue binding guidelines for enforceability of mask mandates and COVID-19 protocol at airports and on flights..Today, the Court also disposed of an impleadment application by an NGO named Bridging the Gap Foundation filed through Advocate Somnath Bharti.The application had sought a direction to the DGCA to inform the Court about conditions that should be imposed in airlines to combat COVID-19.
