Rules to regulate airfare framed, will be placed before parliament: Centre tells Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central government to place before it a copy of the rules framed to regulate airfares in India [S Laxminarayanan Versus Union Of India And Ors.].

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition seeking regulatory guidelines to control unpredictable fluctuations in airfare.

The Court passed today's order after the Central government said that rules in this regard have already been framed.

They are expected to be placed before both houses of the parliament within 30 days, the government said. The bench then directed that a copy of the rules be placed before it in two weeks.

"Considering the submissions, we grant two weeks time to place before this court the rules which have been framed, irrespective of whether they have been placed before the Parliament or not, in sealed cover. List on 3rd August," the Court ordered.

The petition before the Court was filed seeking directions to the Union government and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to frame binding rules on airfare pricing, cap surge pricing, regulate baggage and extra charges, fix cancellation and refund norms, and create an independent aviation regulator with powers to protect consumers.

During the earlier hearing of the case on January 21, the top court had flagged what it called exploitative pricing by airlines especially during festivals and major events like the Kumbh Mela.

"Look at the exploitation you did during Kumbh," Justice Mehta had remarked during the hearing.

"Not only Kumbh, but every festival," Justice Nath added.

"Take the statistics for these two towns, Prayagraj and Jodhpur, the flight fares are three times the flight fares before the festivals," Justice Mehta had further observed.

The Union government later told the Court that the matter was under examination at the highest levels.