The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over recent flight disruptions by IndiGo Airlines. The court said the Delhi High Court is already examining the issue and asked the petitioner to approach it instead.
Parallel Proceedings Not Needed, Says Court
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard the matter. Advocate Narendra Mishra filed the PIL. The bench noted that the Delhi High Court is handling the same issue. It also pointed out that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formed a committee to review the disruptions.
The court said two courts should not hear the same issue at the same time. It allowed the petitioner to present all arguments before the Delhi High Court.
PIL Alleges Severe Passenger Hardship
In the petition, the petitioner claimed that mass flight cancellations and delays caused serious trouble to passengers. He said the situation created a “humanitarian crisis” at major airports.
According to the PIL, thousands of passengers waited for hours without food, water, or basic facilities. The petitioner added that senior citizens and children suffered the most. He argued that the situation violated Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and dignity.
Delhi High Court Questions the Centre
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court questioned the Centre over the handling of the crisis. It asked how authorities allowed the situation to affect lakhs of passengers. The court has listed the case for further hearing on January 22.
IndiGo Claims Operations Returning to Normal
IndiGo said its operations are improving. The airline stated that it operated 2,050 flights on the 12th of this month. It added that only two flights were cancelled on that day, indicating stability in operations.
