What is the law on One Hand Baggage per person while flying; what it includes and excludes

It was recently reported in the media that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has made it mandatory for air passengers to limit their hand baggage to one bag. .Does this mean that an air passenger can only carry one bag in his hand inside the plane (aside from the check in luggage which goes into the cargo hold of the plane) and nothing else? Let us take a closer look.The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) recently wrote to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) calling for the enforcement of the rule limiting the number of handbags per air passenger at one.The CISF raised the issue of passengers with multiple handbags causing delay, increased clearance times and congestion, and overall inconvenience of other travelers.Interestingly, the CISF communication only pointed to earlier BCAS circulars issued in this regard, and called for strict implementation of earlier circulars."It is therefore felt that the enforcement of the aforesaid Circulars must be assured by all stakeholders/airlines," the communication said.It thus asked the BCAS to inform airlines and airport operators accordingly and implement the following measures: implement one handbag rule 'meticulously', depute staff to ensure the same before security checks, conspicuously display the said rule on tickets, banners/hoardings, and vantage locations. At this juncture, it would be pertinent to examine what the old circulars, issued in the year 2000, mandate as the BCAS has only called for implementation of the earlier circulars..The first circular by the BCAS, dated February 24, 2000, states that the dimensions of the cabin baggage should not exceed 115 centimetres and this is limited to one per passenger. This, however, excludes the following items: - lady's handbag; - a rug or blanket; - an overcoat or wrap;- a camera or pair of binoculars;- infant feed; - reasonable reading material carried in-hand; - an umbrella or walking stick; - duty-free purchases, and- collapsible wheelchairs, braces or crutches provided the passenger is dependent on these. Another circular dated May 11, 2000 added laptops to this list of exemptions. .The 2022 letter, therefore, even as it calls the matter sensitive, only seeks the enforcement of the rules as per the 2000 circulars. The CISF merely calls upon the BCAS to make passengers aware of and comply with 'one handbag' per person rule, with the exemptions as stated. This is because people have been noticed carrying more than one handbag.A parliamentary question answered by the Civil Aviation Ministry in 2017 reiterated the same and said it falls on airport operators to enforce the rule. Thus, air travelers can continue carrying other material as stated along with their cabin baggage, even after the latest letter issued in this regard. The number of bags should, however, be only one as was always the rule since 2000..[Read earlier BCAS circulars].[Read CISF communication].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.