New Delhi: IndiGo’s Grounded Dreams: SC Steps In?
Petition Sparks Urgent Call
A fresh plea landed in India’s top court yesterday, spotlighting the mounting woes from IndiGo‘s flight meltdown. Advocate Narendra Mishra filed under “IndiGo All Passenger and Other,” urging swift judicial oversight. Over 1,000 cancellations in recent days have stranded thousands, turning airports into scenes of quiet desperation.
Human Toll at Airports
Major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad brimmed with weary travelers facing bare essentials. Elderly folks, tiny tots, and those with health issues endured hours without meals, hydration, or seating. The filing frames this as a blatant breach of Article 21, the constitutional shield for life’s dignity and basic needs.
Roots in Rule Overhaul
IndiGo pinned the chaos on rushed tweaks to Flight Duty Time Limits, meant to curb pilot fatigue but lacking backup plans. Yet the petition levels blame at both the airline and aviation watchdog DGCA for skipping impact assessments. What started as safety intent has snowballed into widespread gridlock.
Price Gouging Amid Panic
Crisis opportunists jacked fares on key routes skyward, some hitting Rs 50,000 a ticket, trapping folks in a bind. Travelers swapped pleas for refunds with fruitless waits, their journeys derailed without recourse. This surge, the plea argues, exploits vulnerability on an epic scale.
Remedies Sought in Court
- Form a special bench for emergency hearings to probe the fallout.
- Mandate IndiGo to reroute affected passengers via rival flights or trains at no extra cost.
- Compel DGCA and the Civil Aviation Ministry to submit a full crisis breakdown.
These steps aim to restore order, ensuring no one pays the price for systemic slips.
Broader Skies Ahead?
As disruptions drag into day five, with hundreds more axed today, the petition could rewrite accountability in Indian skies. It nudges regulators toward proactive shields, not reactive fixes. For now, grounded hopes hang on the court’s gavel, a potential pivot for fairer flights.